Processed food to be exempted from enviro panel approval

New Delhi, May 26 (UNI) The Government has decided to exempt the import of processed food, including oil, from approval by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC).

However, till an amendment to give effect to the decision is in place, the GEAC approved the import of refined soybean oil subject to certification from the country of export that it has been derived from Roundup Ready Soybeans, the Environment Ministry said here.

Under the new import policy on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)and Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) prior approval of GEAC for all GM products including food item was needed, so the import of soybean oil (refined or de-gummed) derived from GM Soya also required that.

However, in light of the recommendation made by the Swaminathan Committee on Agricultural Biotechnology and Mashelkar Committee on r-Pharma, the Ministry of Forest and Environment has taken a policy decision that GEAC would be involved only in regulation of organisms or products where the end product is a LMO.

Accordingly, it is proposed to amend Rule 11 of rules 1989 which says that food stuffs, ingredients in food stuffs and additives including processing aids containing or consisting of genetically engineered organisms or cells, shall not be produced, sold, imported or used except with the approval of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC).

The amendment will be brought through an inter-ministerial consultation.

Subsequent to the amendment processed food including oil will not attract the provision of Rule 11 of Rules 1989 of EPA.

But as an interim measure, the import of refined soybean oil has been permitted subject to certification from the country of export that it has been derived from Roundup Ready Soybeans.

In case of crude degummed soybean oil, in addition to the certification, regarding it having been derived from Round up Ready Soyabean, the importer is also required to submit the analytical report from either CFTRI/NIN/Shri Ram Laboratories on the composition of crude-degummed Soybean oil both pre and post processing stage before a final view is taken.

The test results should also include the pre and post refining levels of glyphosate in the oil as well as in the residue. The GEAC clearance does not exempt the importers from the requirements under Environment Protection Act (EPA).

UNI NAZ PV KN1210