No differential duty for GM food yet: Nath

Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said there is no proposal for a differential duty structure for the import of genetically modified foods, feed and organism.

"As of now, there is no such proposal. We may consider it but only after the agriculture ministry has considered it. On our part, we have initiated that all imports of products which have been subjected to genetic modification must carry a declaration that the product is 'genetically modified'," said Nath on the sidelines of a CII conference.

Importers, however, have expressed confusion on the issue, especially in case of crude soyoil imports. Soyoil imports constitutes about 35-40 per cent of India's vegetable oil imports and are sourced from Brazil and the US, where GM soybean seed produce abounds.

In the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09, the government had laid down guidelines for the import of genetically modified food, feed, organisms and living modified organisms, making declaration by importers mandatory. The declaration is to be made to the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC).

Also, institutes and companies which wish to import GM material for research and development will submit their proposal to the Review Committee for Genetic Modification (RCGM) under the department of bio-technology.

In case the companies and institutes use these GM materials for commercial purposes, approval of GEAC is also required.

The import of GMOs/LMOs for the purpose of research and development, food, feed, processing in bulk and for environment release will be governed by the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 and Rules 1989, the notification added.

In case a consignment does not carry such a declaration and is later detected to contain GM material, the importer is liable to penal action under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.