5.         Biosafety and Ethical regulation

5.1.      Biosafety Protocol Management :

The use of recombinant DNA technology in agriculture is aimed at improving yields of the agricultural produces with a considerable saving in labour and land use. However, the use of this new technology for commercial gains and the question of biosafety are intimately related. Therefore, the state will adequately emphasise on the need for evolving a universal biosafety protocol as soon as possible. Identification of the parameters needed to be considered for the assessment of Biosafety and the measures required to be taken thereof for managing the risks involved in the commercialisation of transgenic plants will be adequately stressed. Application of transgenic plants in commercial agriculture is considered to be a genuine concern for safety among all cross-sections of human beings particularly because such agricultural products will be the parts of human and animal food chain. So strategies to be evolved for risk management would duly consider the important factors like controlling and destroying the volunteer transgenic plants used for experimentation, taking account of the human activities in case the transgenic plants have allergenic properties, appropriate training of the people handling transgenic plants and evolution of suitable plans for handling the unexpected events. The hazards and risks shall be assessed on the basis of up-to-date knowledge on transgenic plants. The experience of other countries will also be taken into consideration for gaining deeper understanding and in confidence building for the use of transgenic plants. While deciding upon the commercial application cautious steps shall be taken to bring in adequate transparency in introducing transgenic plants in open environment. Due emphasise will be laid in the addressal of the problems of varying behaviour of the same plant in different agro-climatic environments. Effective steps will be taken to form Bioethical and Biosafety Committees from among the experts available within the state. These high power Committees shall advise on the introduction of specific transgenic plants for commercial agriculture and will function within the domain of DNA guidelines, 1990 under Environmental Protection Act.

5.2.      Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

            Keeping in view that biotechnology has a pervasive role in agriculture and industry, food and medicine, environment and ecology, plant and animal cloning and also the fact that biotechnology is a knowledge based industry and intellectual, rather than financial capital,  approach to the question of intellectual property protection will be positive, rather than defensive. In view of the complexities involved in patenting biotechnological innovations, an appropriate IPR system will be evolved over a period of time. The Department of Science & Technology is already operating a Patent Information Centre through W.B.State Council of Science & Technology. In course of time, this facility will be converted to a State Level IPR Centre with special emphasis to IPR issues related to innovations in biotechnology which in the long run will deal with everything arising out of IPR in biotechnology in the state.