Agricultural biotechnology and regulatory innovation in India

This article uses comparative analyses of both US and EU regulations to understand the evolution of Indian policies aimed at regulating genetically engineered agriculture (primarily cotton). India initially borrowed extensively from OECD regulations, predictably emphasizing human health and environmental impacts. Over time, however, India's biosafety regulations have evolved to reflect the twin imperatives of development and democracy. India expanded biosafety initially to address the economic security of farmers and later, and to a lesser extent, to increase citizen participation and consultation. Much of this reconstitution has been realized through public interest litigation critical of agri-biotech regulation brought about by urban civil society groups, a legal tool that may no longer be applied under India's proposed National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority.