New Straits Times, June 21, 2008
Biosafety law may be
reviewed: Minister
SAN DIEGO: Malaysia is willing to review the
Biosafety Law so that it will not hamper the
country's biotechnology development, Science,
Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus
J. Ongkili said on Thursday.
He said the government took note of requests by
industry players as well potential investors in the
area of agriculture biotechnology for a relook at
the bill.
"It was a good law but after four years of
implementation, some elements of the bill deemed to
be a 'hurdle' to the industry needed to be
relooked," he said when met at the Malaysian
Biotechnology Corporation (BiotechCorp) booth in
California's second biggest city.
The minister is leading Malaysia's 82-member
delegation to BIO International Convention 2008 -
touted as the world's largest biotechnology
gathering.
Ongkili said he had discussed the matter with
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk
Douglas Uggah Embas.
He said officials from the both ministries would
meet next month to streamline some of the concerns.
"We recognised that it may be a bit of a hurdle for
the industry to walk and run. The government will
take the necessary action after consultation with
the industry," he said. – Bernama.
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