Regulating Risks in Synthetic Biology.

Synthetic Biology is considered as a key emerging technology. Globally regulating risks in Synthetic Biology is a contentious issue. Discussions on regulating Synthetic Biology and it's relevance for various treaties, conventions and protocols are on going in many fora, convened under, inter alia, Convention on Biological Diversity. Given it's ramifications, such discussions are inevitable. Regulating biosafety and biosecurity, and, liability for harm are key themes on which discussions are being held. This article describes these developments and their importance. In India the XII th Five Year Plan considered harnessing synthetic biology for national development and regulating it. India has a biotechnology regulatory regime. But develop a robust policy for synthetic biology, foresight and analysis are needed. The global developments on regulating synthetic biology are relevant for development and regulation of synthetic biology in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]