Cabinet clears Agriculture Bio-diversity Bill

New Delhi, May 17: The

on Thursday cleared the National

Bio-diversity Bill which aims to set up National Agriculture Bio-diversity Authority for keeping a check on inflow of pests while importing agricultural and animal products.

The Bill will replace the Destructive Insects and Pests Act of 1914.

"The Cabinet approved the Bill which will have provisions to protect the country's bio-diversity by means of stricter norms for importing agricultural, animal and fish products," sources said. The Authority will be set in the lines of similar legislation in the US, New Zealand and Australia.

The proposed law will ensure streamlining of all plantation quarantine issues like pest-diseases and threats of bio-terrorism, either man-made or natural. The Bill will help India implement international commitment on phytosanitary issues and control entry of any crop and plant-related exotic diseases into the country.

The proposed law will also have provisions for penalty and will ensure setting up of an integrated network of bio-diversity system in the country. India imports edible oils, pulses, fruits besides, plant and seed materials.

PTI