Workshop on Biosafety concludes

Chennai, May 1 (UNI) The two day workshop on 'Biosafety' for senior customs officials organsied by the National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN) Chennai concluded here today.

According to a release, NACEN's Additional Director General Vanaja N Sarna said the workshop was organised in association with the Ministry of Environment and Forests as part of Global Environmental Facility - World Bank Program. The need for such training had arisen due to the fast developments in the arena of biotechnology which had engendered concerns for biosafety, she added.

She said the biotechnology revolution had ushered in novel products that could boost agricultural yields as well as reduce pesticide consumption. The risks to human health and evironment arising out of the widespread use of such technology were real, she added.

She said the Cartegena Protocol was the existing global regulatory framework in this area with the twin goals of benefitting from biotechnology and protecting against the risks. The protocol inter-alia was concerned with the safe transfer, handling and use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Living Modified Organisms (LMOs).

As this was precisely the area of concern to the customs it had become a stake holder in the area of Biosafety. The department had highlighted the need for training customs officers to tackle challenges arising from the enforcement of the Cartegena Protocol, she added.

She said 26 officers in the rank of Assistant and Deputy Commissioners of customs department from various customs commissionerates in Tamil Nadu had attended this two day propramme.

UNI