ICAR-NBPGR and MoEF &CC in association with NACEN, Mumbai and Customs House, Marmagoa, Goa organized Training Workshop at Customs House, Marmagoa, Goa (April 12-13, 2018)

Training Workshop on 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 Customs House, Marmagoa, Goa on April 12-13, 2018. 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 NACEN, Mumbai and Customs House, Marmagoa, Goa. The Workshop was inaugurated by Shri R. Manohar, Commissioner, Customs House, Marmagoa, Goa. Thirty nine officials from the Customs and PlantQuarantine Departments, Govt. of India participated in the Training workshop. The faculty included Dr V Celia Chalam, Principal Scientist, ICAR-NBPGR and Convener of the Training Workshop; Dr SC Dubey, Principal Scientist & Head, Division of Plant Quarantine, ICAR-NBPGR and Convener of the Training Workshop; Dr GJ Randhawa, Principal Scientist & OIC, Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR-NBPGR; Dr Shashi Bhalla, Former Principal Scientist, ICAR-NBPGR and Dr Murali Krishna, Joint Director/ Scientist D, 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. There was an interactive session in which representatives of both customs and plant quarantine officials put fourth their view points and were discussed. This was followed by a visit to the Goa Port.
 

(Source: Dr. V. Celia Chalam, A.R.S, Principal Scientist & Division of Plant Quarantine, ICAR- NBPGR )