(a) whether the Government is aware that imported Genetically Modified (GM) food products
are entering Indian supermarkets and food chains unchecked;
(b) if so, the facts and details thereof;
(c) whether Director-General, Foreign Trade has taken any action to check the illegal
entry of GM food products; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY(SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a to d) As per the Foreign Trade Policy, the import of Genetically Modified Organism (GMOs) and
Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) for the purpose of
(i) Research & Development (R&D) ;
(ii) Food ;
(iii) Feed ;
(iv) Processing in Bulk and
(v) for Environment release will be
governed by the provisions of the Environment Protection Act 1986 and Rules 1989. The import
of any Food, Feed, raw or processed or any ingredient of food, food additives or any food
product that contains GM material and is being used either for Industrial production,
Environmental release, or field application will be allowed only with the approval of the
Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC). Institutes / Companies who wish to import GM
material for R&D purposes will submit their proposal to the Review Committee for Genetic
Modification (RCGM) under the Department of Bio-Technology. In case the Companies /
Institutes use these Genetically Modified material for commercial purposes, approval of GEAC
is also required. At the time of import, all consignments containing products, which have
been subjected to Genetic Modification, will carry a declaration stating that the product is
Genetically Modified. In case a consignment does not carry such a declaration and is later
found to contain GM material, the importer is liable to penal action under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act 1992.