New Indian Regulatory Body In Works, Bollgard-11 Stalled

Avatar for Matt Hopkins By Scott C. Lucas|14 November 2006

Speaking to a group of economic editors, Indian Minister Pawar said the the formation of a National Biotech Regulatory Authority (NBRA) will soon be created “for promotion and regulation of the application of biotechnology in agriculture.”

Meanwhile, the government of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has put on hold Indian company Mahyco’s permission to sell Bollgard-11 cotton seed in the state.

Bollgard-11, a variety with two strains of built-in protection against weevils and heliothis pests, is an upgrade to current Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) seed available in the state. The price of new seed is most likely the sticking point for the State Government.