'Biosafety rules soon'
The government would finalise the biosafety rules within a few weeks restricting use of genetically modified organism to protect environment and human health, said Law Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday.
The rules would be framed under The Environment Conservation Act, 1995 to prevent adverse affect on the agricultural and natural environment, he said.
The minister was talking to reporters at his office in the Secretariat yesterday afternoon after an inter-ministerial meeting on formulation of The Bangladesh Biosafety Rules 2012.
Shafique said no person or organisation can use, import, export, purchase and sell the genetically modified organism or substance without licence or permission from the Biosafety Core Committee.
Highest punishment for committing offence under the proposed rules is two years' jail and fine of Tk 10 lakh, he said.
Mizanur Rahman, senior information officer of the law ministry, told The Daily Star that Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury at the meeting said the government is committed to ensure biosafety and protect environment from the damage caused due to abrupt use of chemicals in agriculture.
Secretary Shahidul Haque said the fisheries and livestock ministry would give its opinion on the rules within seven days and the law ministry would then issue a gazette notification on the rules to make it effective.
The meeting was held at the conference room of the Chittagong hill tracts affairs ministry with the law minister was in the chair.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments