editor’s note
BRAI bill missing from the policy agenda?
The Biotechnology Regulatory
Authority of India bill that came
into existence in 2008, has
undergone multiple revisions in
last nine years due to the
objections from various quarters.
The bill to regulate organisms and
products of modern biotechnology
was last placed in the Indian
Parliament during 2013 but didn’t
sail through due to protests.
Four years on, we are still in dark
about the fate of the bill despite repeated assurances, making the streamlining of
biotech regulations is still a distant dream. Any questions on the same gets you the label
of being pro Monsanto. Critics don’t realize that the genetic engineering is just a part of
overall biotechnology research not the biotechnology itself. And that is the problem
which has now taken the mammoth proportions. The pressure on the government and
obstructionist attitude has now moved on to the judicial battle fields. Litigation in the
matters of science is unfortunate when the things could be sorted out through amicable
discussion. The missing BRAI bill on the policy front is a constant reminder of a major
drawback that holds back our biotech industry. Hope the status quo changes soon!
In this issue of the BioVoice magazine, the ‘Cover Story’ focuses on the serious issue of
anti-microbial resistance that is reaching dangerous proportions for human health. The
‘Face to Face’ features Srinivas Bhylahalli, Vice President, Anatomics who talks about
his company’s operations and future plans in India. Much more to explore in this edition.
Thanks you for the continous readership. Please feel free to write to me at
[email protected]
RAHUL KOUL
www.BioVoiceNews.com
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