The Scientific Advisory Committee, SAC to the Prime Minister, has backed strengthening of regulatory mechanism for genetically modified products like Bt Brinjal.

Making a strong pitch for reforms, the panel said the current debate on GM crops was demoralising and isolating scientists in the sector whose skills have been built with painstaking effort and large investment.

An official release says that the members of the SAC deliberated on the important issue of application of biotechnology for social and economic advancement of the country, particularly in the area of agriculture. It said the current mechanism of Genetic Engineering

Appraisal Committee, GEAC and the Regulatory Committee on Genetic Manipulation, RCGM should be the sole authority for bio-safety and bio-efficacy assessment of all recombinant products.

The panel has said that the current regulatory system for recombinant products administered under Rules (1989) of Environment Protection Act, 1986, should be reformed till Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) is in place.