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FSSAI’s GM food labelling norms expected to be out in two months’ time
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Wednesday, 21 June, 2017, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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The norms for the labelling of genetically-modified (GM) foods, on which the Food Safety Standards Authority of India’s scientific committee is currently working, are expected to be ready a couple of months from now. This was stated by sources.
This will make it mandatory for food business operators (FBOs) to state the GM foods or ingredients on the product’s label, and help consumers make informed choices. In this regard, a meeting of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) and FSSAI officials was held.
According to Section 22 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, FSSAI has the responsibility to regulate GM organisms and products, while GEAC has been tasked with approving the products for commercial use.
FSSAI is working on the categories of food for which the labelling requirement will be made mandatory.
At present, there are no regulations that make it binding upon the FBOs to provide information about GM organisms in their products. However, several companies also import edible oil from Southern America, where GM oilseeds are widely cultivated.
It is pertinent to mention here that GEAC recently approved the commercial cultivation of GM mustard in India. A further clearance by the Ministry of Environment is needed for the final nod.
Until now, only one GM crop, i e Bt cotton, is cultivated in Indian fields. The only other food crop to receive all approvals was Bt brinjal, but the government blocked its introduction. There has been widespread political and public opposition to the GM technology.
Meanwhile, Atul Chaturvedi, chief executive officer, Adani Wilmar Limited, and president, the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA), said, “We welcome this move by FSSAI. The consumer will be able to differentiate between the products which may contain GM ingredients.”
“They will have the choice to consume the kind of produce they want to consume. Moreover, we have not seen any adverse impact of produce containing GM ingredients on human health,” he added.
Ajit Narde, a Kolhapur-based farmer activist, said, “Approximately Rs 1.25 lakh crore worth of edible oil and pulses containing GM ingredients are imported by India.”
“About 25 per cent of the cotton seed oil consumed in India has the derived GM crop BT cotton, and again no complaint of any adverse effect has been registered. India imports Canola and soybean oil, all of which are derived from GM crops,” he added.
However, Narde said, “It is not necessary to mention the details of GM ingredients on the product label, as it will unnecessary create fear among the consumers regarding the safety of the GM goods. The consumers will then avoid purchasing such products.”
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