The scientific and policy debate on the potential benefits and risks of biotechnologies remains polarized. As more genetically modified crops, insects, and fish are developed, the 2000 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity provides a forum to monitor developments and address risk assessment and risk management …
The inclusion of the socio-economic aspects in environmental decision-making has been practiced since the early seventies. The interactions between the environment and society, the growing demand for social responsibility and the pledge towards sustainable development are some of its drivers. However, in multilateral environmental agreements, particularly in the Cartagena Protocol …
Policy convergence, defined as the growth in similarity of policies over time, constitutes a central concept in comparative public policy, yet a great deal of ambiguity and contention surrounds it. The article discusses the conceptual and practical meanings of policy convergence in the context of efforts to harmonise biosafety systems …
Socio-economic considerations are important components for careful decision-making to ensure that society enjoys the benefits of modern technology while minimising or avoiding its potential costs. However, in many parts of the world, information and analysis of the social and economic impacts of modern biotechnology are lagging behind. There is little …
Panel calls for 10-year moratorium on field trials of Bt food crops Citing India’s obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity — whose global conference is now underway here — a Supreme Court-appointed panel has recommended a ban on genetically modified (GM) field trials until the regulatory system is completely …
A panel of scientists set up on the orders of the Supreme Court has recommended a 10-year moratorium on field trials of all genetically modified or Bt food crops. The six-member panel of technical experts came to this conclusion on the basis of the overall status of food safety evaluation …
In accordance with the Order of the Honourable Supreme Court of India dated May 10, 2012 on the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 260 of 2005 of Aruna Rodrigues Vs Union of India, a Technical Expert Committee (TEC) was constituted by the Honourable Supreme Court of India. The Honourable Supreme Court …
CropLife International represents a network of regional and national associations in 91 countries, and is led by companies such as BASF, Bayer CropScience, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, FMC, Monsanto, Sumitomo and Syngenta CropLife International and global Industry Coalition (GIC) have announced the publication of the first tool to aid governments, who …
It contributed to a cumulative national farm income of $9.4 bn between 2002 and 2010 Bt cotton has delivered significant benefits to all members of the agricultural value chain in the country, and has contributed to a cumulative national farm income of about $9.4 billion between 2002 and 2010, turning …
Discard Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill, say NGOs The Coalition for GM Free India; Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Hyderabad; and Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture have called upon the Union government to enact a comprehensive National Biosafety Protection Law to address the risks posed by genetic engineering. In …
Strongly favouring GM crops, India’s top science advisory panel on Tuesday virtually questioned the moratorium on commercialisation of Bt brinjal and pitched for comprehensive reform of the biotechnology regulatory mechanism. “The current regulatory system for recombinant products administered under Rules (1989) of Environment Protection Act, 1986, should be reformed till …
Countries that wait to ratify international protocols relating to bio-safety are keen to understand the complexity involved and take an informed decision. Bio-safety concerns agriculture, health and biotechnology, requiring consultations with these sectors, said Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Talking to …
But they are likely to affect higher-level species such as birds, says ornithologist The long-term environmental impacts of Genetically Modified Organisms need intensive study, but they are very likely to have impacts on higher-level species such as birds. Dr. P.A. Azeez, director of the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and …
The Cabinet has given the green signal of the signing of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) arising from the fair and equitable utilisation of genetic resources and traditional knowledge. The protocol will also contribute to the twin objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity relating to …
HYDERABAD, 3 OCT: The ongoing UN convention on bio-safety is expected to take decisions to ensure the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs). LMOs are organisms that have been genetically modified through biotechnology. During the sixth meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Cartagena Protocol …
Pending ratification of the Nagoya Supplementary Protocol, non-government organisations (NGOs) are demanding that the Indian government enact a domestic legislation for liabilities and redress of living-modified organisms (LMOs). The Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on liability and redress to the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety closed for signature in March 2012 with …
During the Meeting of Parties (MOP-6) of United Nations Convention of Biodiversity that kick starts on Monday, the Indian government will push for a “no punitive action” against countries failing to implement the Cartagena Protocol on bio-safety till they frame the laws. India has decided to take this stand as …
India will push against punitive action being taken on countries failing to implement the Cartagena Protocol on bio-safety norms, till they frame domestic laws for the purpose. India has decided to take this stand as several countries are yet to pass laws and develop safe handling mechanisms of genetically modified …
With the Convention on Biological Diversity's 11th Conference of the Parties to take place in Hyderabad, this article points out that the treaty's implementation the world over has lacked resolve. India is no exception, with a great gap between the impression given by reports and the reality on the ground.
A group of researchers and industry writers have constructed a narrative of technological triumph for Bt cotton in India, based on an empirical record of superior performance compared to conventional seed. Counterclaims of Bt cotton failure are attributed to mutually reinforcing interactions among non-governmental organisations which avoid rigorous comparisons. However, …
Authorities in Hunan province on Saturday denied that children in a rural school were guinea pigs in a US research project on the effects of genetically modified rice. A research paper involving 68 Chinese primary-school children in the province was published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on Aug …
