The Union agriculture ministry, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the department of bio-technology under the ministry of science and technology have all clarified that the `terminator seeds' exist only on conceptual plane in laboratories and have not yet been released to the field or for any commercial purpose.

Even if these terminator seeds are released for commercial purposes in future, the existing laws of the land including the Patent Act with its proposed amendments can prevent its entry, the government feels. Moreover, the proposed Plant Varieties Protection and Farmers Rights Bill will take adequate care to prevent the entry of terminator seeds.

The government is also aware that the patent on control of plant gene expression has been accordedto both Delta & Pineland Company and US department of agriculture by the US Patent Office.

Based on the existing laws, the directorate of plant protection, quarantine and storage in the agriculture ministry has already issued instructions to the import permit issuing authorities in the country to ensure that seeds imported are not having any terminator gene.

The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) has been also authorised to inspect these imported seeds.

Besides, the department of bio-technology has already revised the guidelines for research in transgenic plants and for determining toxicity and allergenicity of transgenic seeds, plants and plant parts. It has also issued separate bio-safety guidelines for recombinant DNA. Adequate care has been taken in these guidelines to see that these transgenic seeds do not affect other crops in cases of field trials and researches. The terminator seeds are transgenic in nature.

Experts in the department of bio-technology stated that as per theconcept of terminator seeds, these seeds are supposed to contain three specific gene qualities. These include inducible promoter having repressor specific gene, recombinase gene having repressable promoter and lethal gene separated by blocking sequence with transitantly active promoter or late embryo genesis promoter.

This inducible promoter in the seed gets inactivated with the external stimuli in such a way that the repressable promoter of recombinase gene will not be repressed. It will produce recombinase protein which will remove the blocking sequence which is situated between the lethal gene and transitantly active promoter. The lethal gene and the transitantly active promoter will come together in expression and the life of the seed will be limited to one or two generations as specified.

Sources in the agriculture ministry stated that quarantine laws are quite stringent in the country. Import permit is a statutory requirement plants and plant materials meant for propagation as per the provisions ofPFS Order, 1989. Additional declarations with regard to nematodes identified pests and diseases and weeds and other objects are required to be incorporated in the phytosanitory certificate by the importing country and will be inspected by designated government agencies.

The phytosanitory certificate (PSC) is also a statutory requirement. The importer is required to obtain the certificate from the National Plant Protection Organisation of the exporting country in the format prescribed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), 1951. Additional declarations prescribed in the import permit will also be incorporated in the PSC.

Besides, according to the law there will be screening at the port of entry like inspection and clearance of materials imported through cargo, clearance of post parcels and passengers baggages and inspection, sampling, testing requirements for seeds and propagating materials.

The importers are required to establish PEQ facilities as prescribed by the Plant ProtectionAdvisor to the Union government to ascertain freedom from hidden pests or diseases. The importers have to secure certificate to this effect from DIA, well before the arrival of the consignment or submission of application for import permit.

The imported material released by PQFS at the entry port is grown under PEQ conditions under the supervision and surveillance of DIA concerned and PQ officers. The inspection of such materials is conducted by DIA and PQ officers and the consignment is recommended for final release if found from quarantine pests. While applying for import permit, the importer has to submit a catalogue of varieties intended for import or an invoice obtained from the exporter and a registration certificate from National Seeds Corporation if it is a seed company or from director of agriculture or horticulture if he is a grower of vegetables and flowers.

In case of bulk import of seeds, the importer is required to summit a copy of the recommendation issued by the agriculture ministry. Incase of import of cutting, sapling, budwood that requires to be grown under PEQ, a certificate of approval of facilities and an undertaking to grow the imported plant materials under PEQ is required to be submitted alongwith the application for import permit.