India's Biotechnology Policies and Biosafety Regulations

Biotechnology is an already estabilished phenomenon in India's research and technology implementation programmes. This paper discusses the scope of biotechnological developments in India and the status of recombinant DNA (rDNA) biosafety guidelines aimed at protecting the environment against release of hazardous genetic engineering products. The structure of the Biosafety regulations implementation committees and their functions are described. The need to harmonise national biosafety regulatory policies with other countries of particular regions is underscored.