The Union Ministry of Environment & Forests has set up a Task Force to provide recommendations on streamlining the regulatory process for recombinant products for the biotech-pharma industry. The Task Force is headed by Dr. RA. Mashelkar, director general, CSIR and secretary, Government of India.

The Task Force has been set up on the initiative taken by Dr. Prodipto Ghosh, secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests and is proposed to be comprehensively represented by all stakeholders of the pharma-biotech sector.

The Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises, (ABLE) is euphoric as the announcement comes at a time when the sector is poised for growth.

The Ministry of Environment & Forests decision to initiate the setting up of the Task Force and appointing Dr. Mashelkar as the head proves the earnestness of the government in being proactive to the needs of the biotech industry, said Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, president, ABLE.

Both the industry and ABLE look forward to an early resolution on issues affecting the sector including the concerns on the regulatory matters, stated Nitin Deshmukh, director general, ABLE.