Biotech Updates

DBT Prepared Draft Guidelines for Institutional Biosafety Committees

February 11, 2011

The Department of Biotechnology, Government of India has prepared a draft of the "Guidelines for Institutional Biosafety Committees" to provide structured guidance to Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBSCs). Guidelines will streamline activities and compliance requirements as per Rules, 1989. They shall form a part of the revised Handbook for IBSC Members. In India, all institutes/organizations handling biotech/GMO products are required to establish the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC) which is the nodal point for interaction within the institution to implement the biosafety regulatory framework.

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is responsible for overseeing research involving GMOs/LMOs and rDNA materials through these IBSCs. Several new IBSCs have been constituted and a need has been felt to provide further statutory guidance for strengthening the regulatory compliance with increasing number of IBSCs. Therefore, DBT has taken this initiative to strengthen the functioning of the IBSCs.

To read and download the draft, visit http://dbtbiosafety.nic.in/Files2/Guidelines_IBSCs.pdf.  Submit comments on the document by February 18, 2011 to Dr. K.K. Tripathi, Advisor, DBT at kkt@dbt.nic.in.