What is covers by the | Biological —
pees Act? ‘
Ie Act covers conservation, use of biological
resources and associated knowledge
| ‘ocourring in India for commercial or
research purposes or for the purposes of bio-
survey and bio-utilisation. It provides a framework
for access to biological resources and sharing
‘the benefits arising out of such access and use.
‘The Act also includes in its ambit the transfer of
research results and application for Intellectual
Property Rights (IPRs) relating to Indian Biological
foreigners, non-resident Indians,
association or organization that
entities require the approval of the Nati
Biodiversity Authority when they use biological
resources and associated knowledge occurring
in India for commercial or research purposes or
The Role of National Insect-Honey
Bee in Sweet Revolution in India
Naresh Kadyan wth Mrs. Sukanya Beal
‘or the purposes of bio-survey or bio-utlisation.
Indians and Indian institutions do not require the
approval of the National Biodiversity Authority
when they engage in the above mentioned
activities. However, they would need to inform
the State Biodiversity Boards prior to undertaking
such activities. Any commercial application
related to use of biological resources should be
‘approved by the Authority.
Who and what is excluded by the
Biological Diversity Act?
The Act excludes Indian biological resources
that are normally traded as commodities. Such
exemption holds only so far the biological
resources are used as commodities and for
no other purpose. The Act also excludes
traditional uses of Indian biological resources
and associated knowledge and when they are
used in collaborative research projects between
Indian and foreign institutions with the
of the central government.What is the National Biodiversity
Authority required to do when it
receives an application for approval
to use Indian biological resources
and associated knowledge?
The National Biodiversity Authority shall
give approval, based on agreement with
State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs), only after
establishing mutually agreed terms and an
equitable benefit sharing agreement between the
users of the biological resources and associated
knowledge and concerned local bodies and
benefit claimers.
What are the consequences of lack
of compliance with the Biological
Diversity Act?
In cases where an approval of the National
Biodiversity Authority is required for the use
of Indian biological resources and associated
knowledge and such approval is not obtained,
the punishment can extend to five years
imprisonment or a fine of ten lakh rupees or
both.
In cases where the State Biodiversity Board
neads to be intimated about the use of Indian
biological resources and associated knowledge
and this is not done, the punishment can extent
to three years imprisonment or a fine of five lakh
rupees or both.
Any offence under the Act is cognizable and
non-bailable.
Relevant definitions for the purposes
of the Biological Diversity Act:
Biological resources: means plants, animals,
microorganisms, genetic material and by-
products of value but excluding human genetic
material.
Bio-survey and bio-utilization: means survey
or collection of species, sub-species, genes,
components and extracts of biological resources
for any purpose including for characterisation,
inventories and bioassay.
Benefit claimers: means conservers of biological
resources and their by-produets and creators and
holders of knowledge relating to the use of such
biological resources.
Commercial utilization: means using biological
resources as drugs, industrial enzymes, food
flavours, fragrances, cosmetics, emulsifiers,
oleoresins, colours, extracts and genes used for
improving crops and livestock through genetic
intervention.
Honey and beekeeping have a long history in
India. Honey was the first sweet food tasted by
the ancient Indian inhabiting rock shelters and
forests. The raw materials for the beekeeping
industry are mainly pollen and nectar that
come from flowering plants. Both the natural
and cultivated vegetation in India constitute
an immense potential for development of
beekeeping. About 500 flowering plant species,
both wild and cultivated, are useful as major or
minor sources of nectar and pollen. There are at
least four species of true honey bees and three
species of the stingless bees. Several sub-species
and races of these are known to exist. In recent
years the exotic honey bee has been introduced.
Together these represent a wide variety of bee
fauna that can be utilized for the development of
honey industry in the country. There are several
types of indigenous and traditional hives includinglogs, clay pots, wall niches, baskets and boxes
of different sizes and shapes.
Varieties:
Rapeseed / Mustard Honey, Eucalyptus Honey,
Lychee Honey, Sunflower Honey, Karanj /
Pongamea Honey, Multi-flora Himalayan Honey,
Acacia Honey, Wild Flora Honey, Multi and Mono
floral Honey are some of the major varieties of
Natural Honey.
Areas of Production:
North East Region of India and Maharashtra are
the key areas for natural honey production.
India Facts and Figures
The country has exported 51547.31 MT of
Natural Honey to the world for the worth of Rs.
653.58 crore/ 101.32 USD Millions during the
year of 2017-18.
Major Export Destinations (2017-18): U S A,
Saudi Arab, U Arab Emts, Canada and Qatar.
Product: Natural Honey
USA 99,649.63] 61,895.10 42,654.52 | 50,962.43,
‘Saudi Arab 1.17365] 1,826.75 770.72 2,554.71| 4,018.69
U Arab Emts 95037| _1,774.31| _1,260.16| 2,084.89] 1,726.16| 2,743.52
Canada 31779 672.41 453.34 755.97 604.64 998,02
Qatar 128.20 466.93 236.34 524.77 370.55 917.52
Bangladesh Pr 516.67 774.84 717.45 299.83 614.83 776.87
Nepal 297.01 499.16 309.48 434.39 515.02 642.50
Kuwait 182.92 343.64 255.47 595.60 220.80 496.45
‘Morocco 492.88 826.02 319.03 aa4.17 355.68 462.56
Germany 40.23 85.96 281.75 428.77 308.29 423,79
‘Oman 100.86 222.84 180.16 960.20 209.08 411.87
Belgium (0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 236.36 329.30
‘Yemen Republe 20.80 42.16 175.02. ‘371.01 127.44 267.77
Iraq 36.90 102,03 113.84 155.96 105.25 197.50
Poland 0.00 0.00 0.02 (0.05 153.00 474.73
Singapore 16.00) 48.77 42.51 162.78 50.41 180.91
Kenya 10.76 15.10 62.13 104.50 90.91 142.74
Libya 209.47 491.85 283.61 513.61 81.62 132.96
‘Japan 23.70 87.05 78.34 300.16 30.92 109.55
Malaysia 23.18 52.86 47.89 100.08 47.52 95.91
Baharain is 29.40 64.05 40.08 56.42 56.67 94.28
‘Sudan 0.00 0.00 55.28 95.85 49.12 79.94
Uruguay 0.00 (0.00 (0.00 0.00 74.00 78.88
Bhutan (0.00 0.00 40.50 84.24 52.81 78.63
Bahamas 40.00 97.99 10.46 28.11 29.24 68.52
Mauritius 8.32 198.84 24.99 57.43 27.60 68.06)
Jordan 26.32 64.93 45.93 105.58 25.33 58.02
Australia 25:38 77.18 28.39 49.63 2851 55.07
Sri Lanka Dsr 22.73 48.91 10.05 21.08 21.34 618