DGFT Notification. Meeting with state governments. Curriculum for Training of SAUs. Rice Biology Document. Approved Bt cotton Hybrids

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1 Meeting with state governments Curriculum for Training of SAUs Rice Biology Document Approved Bt cotton Hybrids Highlights of Events A ; Up lming vents Recently Relcasel Reports Links For Further Reading. - 1 DGFT Notification I Draft PFA Notification Do You Know? It gives me immense satisfaction in bringing out the 4th edition of the Biosafety Newsletter, which inter alia has information on the COP8-MOP3 events. The biosafety newsletters have been very well received by all the stakeholders as a good medium of information dissemination. The third Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP8-MOP3) was held from March 2006, in Curitiba, Brazil. Approximately 1000 participants representing Parties to the Protocol and other governments, UN agencies, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, academia and industry participated in various deliberations and negotiations in the meeting. COP8-MOP3 considered several repons and adopted 18 decisions including requirements for the Handling, Transport, Packaging and Identification (HTPI) of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) destined for contained use or for intentional introduction into the environment. Documentation requirements of LMO shipments for Food, Feed and Processing (LMO-FFPs); risk assessment and risk management; liability and redress; compliance; the need to establish subsidiary bodies; monitoring and reporting; and assessment and review of implementation were also considered. One of the major decision taken in the COP8-MOP3 was the agreement on Article 18(2a) on documentation and identification of LMO-FFPs. The discussions addressed the criteria to determine whether commodity shipments "contain" or "may contain'' LMO-FFW, including the level of detection, adventitious presence and thresholds, intent of the exporter and preservation ofidentity in the systems. Indian delegation led by Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) participated in this meeting. The GEF-World Bank Capacity Building Project on Biosafety was showcased in the Conference and the efforts by Government of India were widely appreciated. It was widely recognized that capacity building is essential for compliance to obligations of Cartagena Protocol. AU the countries were urged to take necessary legal and administrative measures at the national level for establishing effective National Biosafety frameworks. I am happy to inform that as a part of the Capacity Building exercises, the Project Coordinating & Monitoring Unit (PCMU) is undertaking training programmes for State Agricultural Universities, State Government officials, progressive farmers and other concerned stakeholders. It is expected that these initiatives towards "train the trainers" would go a long way in strengthening the capacities on biosafety at thegrassroot level. Desh DeepakVerma Project Director Joint Secre&q Mitry of Environment & Forests

2 MEETING WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENTS ON Bt COTTON RELATED ISSUES CUM AWARENESS WORKSHOP ON CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), Government of India organized a meeting with the officials from State Departments of Agriculture, Health and Environment to discuss issues related to Bt Cotton to apprise them about capacity building requirement in the context of Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on February 27-28, 2006 at New Delhi. The meeting was inaugurated by Dr. Pradipto Ghosh, Secretary, MoEF and presided over by Shri Bir Singh Parsheera, Additional Secretary, MoEF and Chairman, GEAC. The meeting was attended by 50 participants from State Departments of Agriculture, Health and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR). Officials from each of nine Bt cotton growing states viz., Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab shared their experiences. The need for effective monitoring of transgenic crops, both pre release and post release, was emphasized and options were discussed. The participants were apprised about various provisions of Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and capacity building initiatives being undertaken by rhe MoEF under the GEF-World Bank capacity building project. The meeting was coordinated by Biotech Consortium India Limited. Major recommendations that emerged out of the meeting are: 1. Insect Resistance Management (IRM) in Bt cotton: Alternative options to refugh suitable fbr Indian conditions such as growing bhindi, mestha and cowpea and lesser rehgia area (5% ofthe total sown area) should be carew sdied for insect resistance management. A natiod consultation on IRA4 smregies for Bt cotton A may be organized with policy makers, agricultural scientists, farmers associations and NGOs to discuss the suitability ofvarious options. integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Bt cotton: Appropriate package of practices of IPM for each Bt cotton hybrid needs to be developed keeping in view agroclimatic conditions (rainfedtirrigated) of the Stateslregions. The IPM being followed in dieerent states should be properly documented and awareness regarding the same be created at all levels of stakeholders. 3. Monitoring of Bt cotton and other transgenic prodacts (pre release and post release) : It was suggested that the hnctionaries in t-he State AgricultureDepartments including seed laboratories and analysts implementing the Seed Act may be empowered under Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986 to take punitive action. Separate enforcement wing may be established by the State Governments to check the spread of illegal seeds. SBCCs and DLCs should be constituted by all States and regular meetings held with information to GEAC. Regular compliance report by companies may be sent to GEAC, SBCCs, DLCs and State Agricultural Universities. Seed testing laboratories may be established at least one in each state aad notified as "reference laboratories" Methods for detection of new geneslevent integrated in Bt cotton seeds need to be dweloped. 4. Capacity Building at Central and State level: Training workshops may be organized in the states preferably in regional language for dissemination of information regarding GM technology including Bt cotton. The training p r o ~ emay s also be conducted through satellite and information capsules on TV and radio,

3 CURRICULUM FOR TRAINING OF SAUs Ministry of Environment and Forests is organizing a series of eight regional workshops for training of State Agricultural Universities on biosafety during June-October 2006 across the country. The objectives of the training workshops are to sensitize and train SAUs scientists, state agriculture department officials and other stakeholders about issues related to safety assessment and regulation of use of GMOsILMOs in agriculture and to create awareness about the provisions of the Cartag;ena - Protocol on Biosafety The outline of the Curriculum for the workshops is as follows:,,, Biosafetyissues related to transgenic crops: Developments in I - - the area of GM crops will be presented kth updated global and Indian status regardmgthe approved crops and area under cultivation. Biosafety concerns will be outlined dong with risk assessment and maaagement approaches being guidelines for toxicity and allergenicity evaluation of transgenic seeds, plants and plant parts, 1998 will be presented. The role of SAUs in implementation and monitoring ofvarious regulations will be highlighted. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: Majox provisions of the Cartagena Protocol will be explained along with capacity building needs of various stakeholders. Findings of Training Needs Assessment Survey will be shared. Detection methods for identification of GMOs: Various detection methods available for identificarion of GMOs as well as their suitability for various stakeholders will be discussed. Public awareness and communication: Public perception about GM crops will be deliberated on along with proposed communication tools for sharing information with public particdady hrners. National regulations and role of SAUs: Overview of Visits to research laboratorieslgreenho~~eslsites of field trials and regulatory framework in India viz. Rules for the manufacture, practical demonstration of detection kits wili form part of the uselimportlexport and storage of hazardous microorganisms/ workshop curriculum. genetically engineered organisms or cells, 1989, Seed Policy, 2002, Recombinant DNA Safety Guidelines, 1990 and The organization of these workshops has been entrusted to Biotech Revised guidelines for research in transgenic plants & ConsortiumIndiaLtd. '7 r; k W F y T.!=?" a vkm DGCCMENT ON BIOLOGY OF RICr CIF Under the bkfi-world Bank Eunded project on apac~ty building for the iniplementation of thk Cartagma Protocol on Biosafety, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi is bringing out a Document on Biology ofricx, (Oryza sativa L.) in India, This document is intended to provide extensive information about the biology of rice (h, India, which may be used as a tool by those pske&with assessing the environmend safety oftransgenic rice &at may be released into the environment.1n order to undertake such an assessment, information about the non-transformed - 3 host is critical as it cm be used to id;nt$ species-specilic characteristics tharmay'be affectddby the nove1.trpit.s. It also ij details the significant interactions'betweer~ the plant and other living organisms that should be evaluated in the impact analysis. The document pr on about rice as a crop plant in India in totality, its taxonomic status, centers of origin and diversiv, ng conditions, genetic diversity ad the pests that affect rice production in India. It is b Document on he ~ i o lof o or& ~ ~ satha (Rice) No. 14, 1999, ENV/JM/MONO Organization of Economic Cooperation and Developmmt. The document was rpiewed by Dr. G. S. Khush, Adjunct ~ roks Siddiq, Profisor, Dapartme~it of Biotechnoiogy,ANGRAU, Hyderabad; D Division, CRRI, Cuttackand Dr. Morven. k Mcleatl, Resident:AGBIOS, Canada. The document will serve as a useful rderem for an effective and systematic risk assessment Indian conditions. e

4 ' ' OUTCOMES OF COP8-MOP 3 In accordance with the medium term programme of work of the COP-MOP, a copy of the decisions is available at.. r,iiwww.bidv.org/dacemeetings'l-'-~p-g~l'l -- The third meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP8-MOP3) was held on March 2006 in Curitiba, Brazil. - - > - REQUIREMENTS UNDER ARTICLE 18(2a) Article 18 (2a) of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety required the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to take a decision on the detailed requirements of those elements specified in the first sentence of the same paragraph, including specification of the identity of the living modified organisms in question and any unique identification. Much of the debate at MOP-3 focused on the use of "contain" versus "may contain" in trade-related documentation. Biotech importers, in particular African countries, advocated the former, while biotech exporters pushed for the latter. 132 countries finally agreed on rules on the international trade in products containing genetically modified (GM) organisms. The rulings centre on how such products are labeled and provides two options. In cases where the identity of the LMO is known "through means such as identity preservation systems" (a series of documentation and storage-related requirements aimed at guaranteeing that a product retains particular characteristics), the shipment should be labelled as containing LMO-FFPs. In cases where the identity is unknown, the "may contain" label would apply. In both cases, exporters would be required to provide the common scientific or commercial names of the LMOS, as well as information about the specific nature of the genetic modification. Countries that are party to the protocol will have four years to implement the rule. During negotiations, Mexico initially resisted mandatory labelling and was later backed by Paraguay. Both countries import and export GM foods. Mexico eventually relented, but did add a clause stating that the labelling rules would not apply to transactions in which one country is not party to the protocol. At the insistence of some countries, particularly from Latin America, the final decision strongly emphasizes the need for capacity building to help developing countries implement and benefit from documentation requirements. TZI Saw: CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON BIODIVERSITY ISSUES MoEF has constituted a Consultative Group on Biodiversity Issues under the chairmanship of Secretary, MoEF to advise the Government on matters pertaining to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and Rarnsar Convention on Wetlands. The consultative group is composed of experts, officials from concerned Ministries and Departments viz. Department of Biotechnology, Department of Ocean Development and Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Department of Commerce and Ministry of Agriculture and Member Secretaries of MoEF's consultative groups on other International Conventions. The Consultative Group on Biodiversity Issues meets regulatory to advise on country positions for various international negotiations meetings for the above three Multilateral Environmental Agreements. SIDE EVENT COP8- MOP3: PRESENTATIONS ON GEF ASSISTED CAPACITY BUILDING PRO J E CTS ON B l OSAF ETY In one of the side events in COP8-MOP3, Global Environment Facility (GEF) organized presentations by different countries implementing capacity building projects in biosafety. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank are the three implementing agencies, out of which the World Bank is implementing capacity building projects in India and Colombia. India's GEF-World Bank Capacity Building Project on Biosafety was showcased by Dr. Manoranjan Hota, Project Coordinator and Additional Director, MoEF. The activities of the project being implemented viz. Biosafety Clearing House, Project Website, Training Needs Assessment Report, Biosafety Newsletters etc. were greatly appreciated.

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