Industry concerned over GM soyoil issue

Crude and refined soybean oil, derived from genetically modified (GM) soybean, must be declared as 'GM', according to R Warrier, additional director with the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC).

Industry members, however, feel that mandatory labelling of the product is likely to hit the organised sector more than the unorganised one, which deals with loose oil and not packaged form.

Since December 1989, the industry has been barred from selling, importing or using GM products without the approval of GEAC, under the ministry of environment and forests.

However, "no request for commercial import and marketing of GM food have been received," till date by the GEAC, said Warrier in response to a clarification sought by The Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA).

The ministry of environment and forests had notified the Rules for the manufacture, use, import, export and storage of hazardous microorganisms/genetically engineered organisms or cells, 1989 (Rules 1989) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

For getting the clearance of GEAC, the importer is expected to furnish an analytical report of crude or refined soyoil from the country of origin; whether the imported degum oil is to be sold to dedicated refineries having facilities or to local refiners; an analytical report of by product (as it may also contain GM material); method of disposal of the by-product; foods safety study conducted in the country of origin; and whether the consignment has been approved and is in commercial production in the country of origin.

Soyoil imports constitute about 35 per cent of India's vegetable oil imports and are sourced from Brazil, Argentina and the US, where GM soybean seed produce abounds.

SEA executive director BV Mehta said, "It is a new process and it will take time for the industry to get adjusted to the new procedures".

Further, India neither has the technology nor infrastructure to work on the product's traceability and, thus, such a notification is ahead of the times, said a senior official of Cargill India.

The matter has come to foray as the government laid down guidelines for the import of genetically modified food, feed, genetically modified organisms and living modified organisms, in the Foreign Trade Policy, released earlier this month.

The policy made it mandatory for such imports to carry a declaration stating that the product is "genetically modified" and to be allowed only with the approval of GEAC.