Is India Importing GM Foods Unchecked?

Right to Information requests found India’s FSSAI lacks data on whether imported produce contains unauthorized GM varieties. It also has no recent test summaries, despite import growth.

Only One Approved GM Food Crop

India has approved just one GM food crop – cotton. GM mustard awaits court approval. Without enough safety data, no scientific consensus exists on GM foods’ long-term impacts.

Initial Strict Guidelines Diluted

FSSAI’s initial rules mandated non-GM certificates for 24 at-risk crops from exporting nations. But later orders permitted 1% GM content and relaxed certificate norms.

Monitoring and Testing Deficiencies

Experts say India lacks trained staff and facilities to sufficiently monitor imports. Just 2% of India’s food labs can currently detect GMOs. Random testing is limited.

Solutions to Bolster Oversight

Proposed measures include preferring non-GM exporting nations, mandating testing even with non-GM certificates, and building regulatory capacity.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2023

Category: Agriculture Current Affairs • Economy & Banking Current Affairs