ICAR-NBPGR and MoEF &CC in association with Customs, Mangaluru organized Training Workshop at Mangaluru, Karnataka (August 21-22, 2017)

Training Workshop for Strengthening Capacities of Enforcement Agencies (Plant Quarantine and Customs Officials) for Transboundary Movement of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) under UNEP-GEF Phase-II Capacity Building Project on Biosafety was organized at Mangaluru, Karnataka on August 21-22, 2017. It was organized by ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) in association with Customs, Mangaluru,
The Workshop was inaugurated by Dr M Subramanyam, Commissioner of Central Excise, Central Taxes and Customs. Thirty two officials from the Customs and Plant Quarantine Departments, Govt. of India participated in the training workshop. The faculty included Dr Shashi Bhalla, Dr V Celia Chalam, Principal Scientists and the conveners of the training workshop from ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi; Dr Murali Krishna C, Joint Director/ Scientist D from MoEF& CC, Govt. of India. The participants were apprised about LMOs, National and International Framework on Biosafety, Role of Customs Officials in the implementation of Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, National Plant Quarantine System, Documentation Requirements for Transboundary Movement of LMOs, Sampling Strategy for LMOs and Use of Biosafety Clearing House and Detection of LMOS (immonodiagnostics and PCR-based). Participants were also demonstrated the detection of LMOs by a simple, efficient and accurate technique viz., Lateral Flow Strip Test for detection of Cry1Ac in Bt cotton seeds. This was followed by an interactive session in which representatives of both customs and plant quarantine officials put fourth their view points and were discussed. In addition to the faculty, Ms. Reena Shetty, Additional Commissioner, Customs also participated in the interactive session and the closing of the workshop. This was followed by a visit to the Mangaluru Port, where Sh Pravin Vinod, Deputy Commissioner, Customs explained the procedure for checking the consignments.