BRAI bill offered for public consultation, crop circles appear opposing the bill

The controversial Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) bill which was introduced in the Lok Sabha in April has been released for public consultation on June 11. Once tabled in Parliament, BRAI will be a regulatory authority for all Genetically Modified Organisms including controversial genetically modified (GM) crops in the country. However, the bill has faced vehement opposition from MPs, civil society and the public at large because BRAI will provide an easy single window approval mechanism for genetically modified food crops in India. GM crops can be detrimental to human, animal and environmental health and to livelihoods dependent on farming.