What is the procedure for export of germplasm material for research purposes?
Export of PGRs after the enactment of notification of the Biological Diversity Act 2002 is governed by National Biodiversity Authority (NBA). Access to all non-Indians (foreigners), non resident Indian or a company with non Indian participation in its share capital or management shall be with the permission of NBA. Application forms can be downloaded from the website of NBA. However, there is an exemption to export of plant genetic resources for research use under the collaborative research projects between public sector organisation of any country with India which has been approved by at least one Government Department of India (state or central). The export of PGR is now decided by the PGR Export Facilitation Committee (PGR-EFC) comprised six members: Concerned crop coordinator/ Director; ADG of respective crop group; Director, NBPGR, Head, Germplasm Exchange Division; Head, Plant Quarantine Division and Officer Incharge, PGR Policy Planning Unit, NBPGR. Two categories of export are
