stream in 2018 . With this capacity addition , Serum Institute will increase in manufacturing numbers from 1.3 billion to about 1.8 billion doses of various vaccines annually . The company aslo plans to supply a few high tech vaccines to the European and US market , starting with DTaP vaccine . This is an acellular pertussis vaccine containing purified antigenic components of B Pertussis viz Pertussis Toxoid ( PT ), Filamentous Haemogglutinin ( FHA ), Pertacin .
This DTaP vaccine is currently undergoing tests at the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control ( NIBSC ), UK , a world leader in characterization , standardization and control of biological medicines . NIBSC plays a major role in assuring quality of biological medicines globally through the provision of biological reference materials by testing a product and carrying out research .
BRAI BILL IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVISION , TO BE REINTRODUCED : Y S CHOWDARY
While speaking in the Parliament on August 03 , 2016 , Mr Y S Chowdary , Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences informed that his ministry has proposed to set up an independent regulator for biotechnology including genetically modified ( GM ) crops . " To achieve that the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bill ( BRAI ) Bill , 2013 was introduced in 15th Lok Sabha and was lapsed with the tenure of the same . BRAI Bill 2013 has now been revised taking into consideration recent developments in genetic engineering technologies for reintroduction through appropriate legislative process ," he stated .
Meanwhile , the Minister noted , that as an interim measure to implement the best practices contained in the BRAI Bill , establish a separate office dealing with biosafety issues it is proposed to get Genetically Engineered products within the existing regulatory framework under the Rules for the Manufacture , Use , Import , Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro-organisms / Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells ( Rules , 1989 ) of the Environmental Protection Act ( EPA ), 1986 .
" The proposed Office of Biotechnology Regulation will have an Inter-Ministerial Board represented by senior officials of concerned ministries for overall supervision along with strengthened risk assessment and management system through a functional unit of multidisciplinary scientists ," the Minister added .
IMPORT & EXPORT OF BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES ARE LICENSE FREE NOW
After many representations by the industry bodies and senior members of bioscience industry , the government has finally allowed hassle-free import and export of various biological samples by removing the mandatory requirement of an export or import license for the biological samples . The decision was notified by the Director General of Foreign Trade ( DGFT ) through Notification number 19 / 2015-2020 .
Generally , every such sample handling had to be authorized by the Indian Council of Medical Research ( ICMR ). With the new notification , amending the existing rules that made it mandatory to get import or export license , an organization has to only give a self-certification to the customs authority that they
will follow all the applicable rules , regulations and procedures for safe transfer and disposal of the biological samples .
WORLD BIOFUELS DAY CELEBRATED AT DELHI
" There is a large potential of biofuel business in India to grow from present Rs 6500 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore in the next 10 years ," mentioned the Minister of State ( Independent Charge ) for Petroleum and Natural Gas , Mr Dharmendra Pradhan while speaking at the National Conference on the World Biofuel Day in New Delhi on August 10 , 2016 . He said that the Prime Minister has set a target of 10 percent import reduction in crude by 2022 and biofuels can play an important role in achieving the target .
On the occasion of World Biofuel Day , National Conference on ‘ Energy Security for India – Creating a Bio-fuel Economy ’ was organized . The World Bio-fuel Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the anniversary of the successful working of a diesel engine , run on peanut oil , by German innovator Rudolf Diesel in 1893 . The National conference brought together stakeholders of the Bio-fuel sector viz ., the Government , Public Sector Undertakings and the Private Sector .
Ministry of Petroleum Natural gas has given a big push for the Ethanol blending program and is close to achieving 4 % blending during the current sugar year . The bio diesel blending program which was started a year ago on 10 August 2015 as a pilot in 5 cities has now been extended to 6 states and Bio- diesel blended diesel is sold through nearly 2200 retail outlets in the country . The Government has also allowed production of ethanol from alternate routes .
biotech
GOVT TARGETS 1 LAKH BIOGAS PLANTS DURING 2016 , ALLOCATES RS 142 CRORE
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy ( MNRE ) is implementing the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme ( NBMMP ) for setting up of family type biogas plants in rural and semi-urban areas of the country . A target of 1,00,000 biogas plants has been fixed for the current year . This information was given by Mr Piyush Goyal , Minister of State ( IC ) for Power , Coal , New & Renewable Energy and Mines in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha ( upper house of Parliament ) on August 01 , 2016 .
Mr Goyal further said that the family type biogas plants generate clean gaseous fuel particularly for cooking and meeting lighting needs and replaces use of fuel wood , avoid cutting of trees thereby reducing pressure on forests . Biogas plants help in reducing emission of Green House Gases ( GHGs ). A budget allocation of Rs 142 crore has been provided for the Biogas Programme for the current year , 2016-17 .
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