Fresh guidelines for exports of GM products

FOREIGN TRADE POLICY/ SECTOR-WISE ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT

The government today laid down guidelines for the import of genetically modified food, feed, genetically modified organisms and living modified organisms in the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09.

While making such imports, products which have been subjected to genetic modification must carry a declaration stating that the product is "genetically modified", said the commerce minister in his speech today.

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, said a notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Also, institutes and companies which wish to import GM material for research and development purposes 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.

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.