The Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) organized a high-level Roundtable on "Reforms in Regulations and Approval of Genetically Modified (GM) and Genome-Edited (GE) Crop Plants" with over 80 participants including policymakers, agricultural scientists, regulators, industry leaders, economists, and international experts.
The event was presided over by Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR, who emphasized ICAR's commitment to science-led, evidence-based agricultural innovation and the need for a balanced regulatory system that facilitates safe deployment of modern biotechnologies to achieve food and nutritional security, climate resilience, and sustainable agricultural growth. The Roundtable was co-chaired by Dr. R.S. Paroda, Chairman, TAAS, and Dr. M. Ramasami, Founder Chairman, Rasi Seeds (P) Ltd.
Participants noted that India's current regulatory framework under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 involves multiple competent authorities including Institutional Biosafety Committees, Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation under Department of Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, ICAR, and other concerned ministries and state governments. However, rapid advances in genome-editing technologies including CRISPR-CAS based systems, evolving global regulatory practices, and the growing need for climate-resilient agriculture necessitate modernization of India's regulatory framework.
The Roundtable called for a science-based, transparent, efficient, and risk-proportionate regulatory framework with streamlined, time-bound approval processes accessible to both public and private innovators. Dr. M. Ramasami stressed that an efficient regulatory system is essential to translate scientific breakthroughs into technologies that benefit farmers and strengthen India's seed sector. Dr N.K. Singh emphasized the need for enhanced funding by Department of Biotechnology, establishing accredited laboratories, and developing a comprehensive national policy on biotechnology.
Dr. R.S. Paroda concluded that India possesses the scientific expertise to become a global leader in agricultural biotechnology and emphasized the need to review existing multiple guidelines to simplify testing procedures. The recommendations from the Roundtable will be consolidated into a comprehensive policy document for submission to concerned Ministries and regulatory authorities to support evidence-based reforms in the regulation and approval of GM and genome-edited crop plants in India.