The Bio-Safety Bill of Bhutan, 2014 was introduced in the National Council, today. Introducing the bill, the Agriculture and Forests Minister, Yeshey Dorji said the Government has a precautionary policy concerning genetically modified organisms to protect the rich domestic and wild biodiversity of Bhutan.
It is also to promote the nation’s food security and safeguard human and animal health.
Further, he pointed out that Bhutan being party to the Cartagena Protocol on Bio-Safety, it was important for Bhutan to have a legal framework for Bio-Safety. The Cartagena Protocol on Bio-Safety is an international agreement to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity and human health.
The House said there should be a reasonable time gap between passing of the Act and actual enforcement of the Law to educate and sensitize people, particularly the farmers who deal with agricultural products. The house will further discuss the bill on Monday.
