It said the current mechanism of Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) and the Regulatory Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM should be the sole authority for bio-safety and bio-efficacy assessment of all recombinant products.
"The current regulatory system for recombinant products administered under Rules (1989) of Environment Protection Act, 1986, should be reformed till Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) is in place," the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister (SAC-PM) said in a statement.
The Bill to set up BRAI has been pending for more than a year after running into strong protests from green activists.
"GEAC and RCGM should have full time chairpersons. The Chairman of GEAC, may be of Special Secretary status for a three-year period and of RCGM one level lower," said the SAC-PM, which is chaired by renowned scientist C N R Rao.
Currently, the two bodies are headed by joint secretary level officials and the panel is keen on having the posts upgraded to bring it on par with regulators of other key sectors like telecom.
The advisory panel also stressed that the Chairman of the RCGM should be co-chair in the GEAC and not the expert nominee of the Department of Biotechnology. MORE
