Pawar introduces Biosecurity Authority Bill in Lok Sabha

Bill would pave way for setting up of an authority to help control pests & diseases in plants and animals

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Monday introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha that would pave the way for the setting up of an authority that would control pests and species being brought into India.

The proposed Agricultural Biosecurity Authority of India would help prevent, control, eradicate and manage pests and diseases of plants and animals and unwanted organisms.

The Bill, which was being debated for a long time, would ensure agricultural biosecurity and safeguard the agricultural economy. It would also meet India’s international obligations for facilitating imports and exports of plants, plant products, animals, animal products, aquatic organisms and regulation of agriculturally important microorganisms.

<B>Says difference between pro and anti- GM unnecessary</B><BR>
Pawar on Monday said the distinction between those for genetically modified crops and those against was absolutely unnecessary and the country should stop analysing a scientific issue through unscientific means. Speaking at the 10th Anniversary celebrations of Association of Biotechnology-led Enterprises. Pawar said let science tell us what is good and bad  and for that India’s scientists should be allowed to conduct field-trials of GM crops.

“BT cotton was introduced in India in 2002 and my ministry (agriculture) has not taken any programme to popularize its use…but, it must be understood that farmers of India are wise enough to understand what is good or bad for them,” Pawar said, pointing towards the rapid rise in area under BT cotton in the last one decade. India has not allowed the commercial release of any genetically modified crop after BT cotton in 2002 over safety concerns because of inadequate research. Off late, it has also imposed stringent conditions on field trials of GM crops.

Pawar said BT cotton has helped Indian farmers in rainfed areas as well and has lead to 40 per cent increase in cotton yield and 50 per cent reduction in use of pesticides.  “Extensive studies conducted in the European Union have shown that GM crops are not more risky than conventional crops,” the minister said.  

On the oft-repeated criticism on introduction of GM crops that it will lead to loss of millions of natural varieties of vegetables and fruits, Pawar said the fear is unfounded as the government has saved almost all the natural varieties in its gene bank.  

Meanwhile, speaking at the same function, health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that despite an outbreak of swine flu, India has not faced any major problem unlike the last attack of 2010 because the government increased the number of testing labs, started domestic production of re-agents and developed its own vaccine against swine flu. EoM

The Bill seeks to bring together the plant, animal and marine protection and quarantine set-ups under a high-powered body with adequate powers.

The Agricultural Biosecurity Authority of India will be headquartered in Faridabad, Haryana and will be headed by a Director General who will appointed by the central government. Apart from the director general and other members, the authority will have representation from department of agriculture, animal husbandry, commerce, environment and forest, health, customs, DRDO and law.

The authority will have powers to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests in India from outside the country by regulating the import of plants, animals and plant products or animal products and other objects; regulate the export of plants, animals, plant products or animal products and other objects, to meet the importing country's requirements in accordance with international agreements, and to discharge such obligations under those international agreements;declare, by notification, any place to be a controlled area under section; regulate the spread of pests and diseases of plants and animals from one State to another and so on.

Officials said the need for such a Bill was felt after liberalisation of global trade in agriculture opened new avenues for growth and diversification of agriculture, it brought about an increased risk of introduction of exotic pests and weeds in the country with the potential to cause serious economic losses.

Advances in genetic engineering, leading to the introduction and release of living modified organisms or their products (example, genetically modified organisms), also required proper risk assessment and management. Also, the emergence and spread of trans-boundary diseases such as the avian influenza and the Ug-99 wheat stem rust fungus pose new threats to human, animal and plant safety.