Lok Sabha passed the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill 2022 on Tuesday amidst uproar by the opposition parties over the issue of Manipur violence. The bill seeks to promote research on medicinal plants, encourage the production of plant-based medicines and benefit the local persons involved in use of forest produce. The Bill amends the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 to simplify compliance requirements for domestic companies. As per the provision of the Bill, users of codified traditional knowledge and AYUSH practitioners will be exempted from sharing benefits with local communities.
 
Initiating the discussion, Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal of BJP said, the Bill will promote research in the field of biodiversity and also benefit those states having rich bio-diversity. He also added that those working on natural medicines will be able to market them and their intellectual property rights will be protected. Replying to a brief discussion, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said, the amendments were introduced after wide consultations and many members in the House had also expressed their support for the bill. He said, this legislation will encourage cultivation of medicinal plants, research and overall development of Ayush sector.