ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) and in association with Customs, Kandla and Mundra organized two days (May 4-5, 2017) Training Workshop at Kandla, Gujarat for Strengthening Capacities of Enforcement Agencies (Customs and Plant Quarantine Officials) on Transboundary Movement of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) under the UNEP-GEF Phase-II Capacity Building Project on Biosafety. Shri. PVR Reddy, Principal Commissioner, Customs Mundra and Kandla inaugurated the Training Workshop organized at Gandhidham Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The workshop was attended by 30 participants from Customs and Plant Quarantine departments. Among other senior officials who attended the Inaugural Session were Shri P Mohan Rao, Additional Commissioner, Kandla Customs; Shri. MS Meena, Deputy Commissioner, Kandla Customs.
The faculty included Dr. Shashi Bhalla and Dr. V. Celia Chalam, Principal Scientists from ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi; Dr. Murali Krishna, Joint Director, MoEF & CC; Dr. Ajit Dua, Senior Scientist, Punjab Biotechnology Incubator, Mohali. The participants of the Training Workshop 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 and Detection Strategies for LMOs and use of Biosafety Clearing House. 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 visit to Kandla Port, Gujarat.>/p>