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Pawar introduces Biosecurity Bill to protect plants and animals

Updated: Mar 11, 2013 05:23:10pm
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New Delhi, Mar 11 (KNN) Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has introduced the Agricultural Bio-Security Bill 2013 in the Lok Sabha today that provides for establishing an authority for the prevention, control, eradication and management of pests and diseases of plants and animals.  
The proposed legislation will ensure agricultural biosecurity of the country and safeguard the agricultural economy, according to the official statement.  
In addition, it will meet international obligations 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 plant, animal and marine protection and quarantine set-ups under a high powered body — an authority — with adequate powers. The Authority’s mandate will cover the four sectors of agricultural bio-security, namely plant health, animal health, living aquatic resources (fisheries), and agriculturally important micro-organisms.
The liberalisation of global trade in agriculture has enhanced the risk of the entry of exotic pests and weeds in the country that have a potential to cause serious economic losses.
Therefore, an integrated approach through the proposed agricultural biosecurity authority would not only increase the national capacity to protect human health, agricultural production and livelihood, safeguard the environment, and protect against uncertain technologies and products, but also equip the country to meet obligations under international trade and sanitary and phytosanitary agreements in food and agricultural products, the statement said.
Also, an autonomous authority will improve safety, efficiency, transparency and compliance of quarantine and pest management regulations while responding swiftly to contain emergent biosecurity problems.  It will also ensure the conduct of bio- secure international trade in agriculture. (KNN/Gunj)   

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