The committee has eight representatives from the industry and one from the NGO sector... before the draft policy could see the light of the day, Suman Sahai of Gene Campaign pulled out of the panel.

Dr Sahai has alleged that three-month timeframe was not enough for preparing a national policy "which may have far reaching consequences" on the consumers and environment
------

National Biotech Policy On The Anvil - Sole NGO Representative Quits Panel
ASHOK B SHARMA
Financial Express, January 31, 2005
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=81230

The government is likely to announce a national biotechnology policy soon. According to sources in the department of biotechnology (DBT), the policy will suggest a comprehensive action plan for development of biotechnology in the agriculture, food, drugs and pharmaceuticals sectors.

Apart from emphasising the need for developing modern transgenic biotechnology, it would also emphasise on traditional biotechnology like bio-pesticides, bio-fertilisers, development of industial enzymes. The draft policy aims at "placing India in the global map of transgenic technology". The draft policy also suggests to use the country's lead in information technology for the development of biotechnology, i.e., for the development of bio-informatics. The draft policy has taken cue from the reports of MS Swaminathan panel on agricultural biotechnology and RA Mashelkar panel on recombinant pharma and has suggested a single window clearance for all transgenic products.

The policy draft has extensively incorporated several suggestions of these two panels.

The committee is headed by MK Bhan, secretary, department of biotechnology. It has eight representatives from the industry and one from the NGO sector and members from government departments.

Union science and technology minister Kapil Sibal had announced in August last year that the policy would be put in place by January. But before the draft policy could see the light of the day, Suman Sahai of Gene Campaign pulled out of the panel.

Dr Sahai has alleged that three-month timeframe was not enough for preparing a national policy "which may have far reaching consequences" on the consumers and environment