Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran has expressed grave concern over the proposed National Biotechnology Regulatory Bill. The Minister said the Bill contained dangerous provisions that would prevent democratic control over genetic experiments and harm the farmers and consumers. Though agriculture was a State subject, the Centre had not asked the views of the State on the proposed legislation. This was highly objectionable. The Bill had provisions to take away the powers of the State government and local self- governments regarding testing and production of genetically modified crops and impose Central decisions on the States.