Bill would pave way for setting up of an authority to help control pests & diseases in plants and animals
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha that would pave way for setting up of a National Biosecurity Authority, which would help in prevention, control, eradication and management of pests and diseases of plants and animals and unwanted organisms.
The Bill which was being debated for a long time will ensure agricultural biosecurity of the country for common benefit and for safeguarding the agricultural economy.
It will also meet international obligations of India for facilitating imports and exports of plants, plant products, animals, animal products, aquatic organisms and regulation of agriculturally important micro organisms.
The Bill seeks to bring together the plant, animal and marine protection and quarantine set ups under a high powered body with adequate powers. Officials said the need for such a Bill was felt because as liberalisation of global trade in agriculture has opened new avenues for growth and diversification of agriculture, it brought about 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 (e.g. genetically modified organisms) also required proper risk assessment and management. Also, the emergence and spread of transboundary diseases such as the avian influenza and the Ug-99 wheat stem rust fungus pose new threats to human, animal and plant safety.