The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is taking all efforts to push the long-pending National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority (NBRA) Bill for the passage in Parliament during the forthcoming session itself.

The remaining formalities for introducing the bill have been completed and necessary approvals had been given for the bill to be introduced in the Parliament, sources said. Though the bill was scheduled for the last budget session, it did not come up because of the prolonged stalemate in the House.

“The bill is ready and all technicalities have been completed. We want to see that it is passed in the forthcoming session slated from next month. The senior officials from Ministry of Science and Technology have been interacting with the Cabinet secretariat and the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry to push it. The concerns of the stakeholders have also been addressed while preparing the final draft,” an official said.

The much awaited NBRA Bill aims to establish Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India to regulate research, import, transport, use of organism and product produced from modern biotechnology. It seeks to set up the NBRA as an independent, autonomous, statutory agency to safeguard the health and safety of the people and to regulate the safe development and deployment of biotechnology products and processes in the country. Once in place, the Authority will have overriding powers on matters related to the development and deployment of biotechnology products and processes in the country.

Sources in the department said the passage of the Bill will bring in positive and powerful changes in the biotechnology sector, including the pharmaceuticals and health research. It will usher in the next stage of all-round growth in the sector. Some of the concerns faced by the industry will also be addressed through this bill.