Sep 5, 2020
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has branded 24 food crops imported in India to compulsorily declare ‘Non-GM cum GM-Free’ certificate from 1st January 2021.
In an order to restrict the entry of Genetically-Modified (GM) crops, FSSAI has decided to issue a directive for a prerequisite of ‘Non-GM cum GM-Free’ certification to be accompanied with all the imported food shipment.
The directive says that the framing of regulations related to genetically modified or engineered food, which is governed by the Section 22 of the FSS Act, is taking time and to ensure only non-GM food crops are imported into India, it has been decided that every consignment of imported food products listed by the FSSAI must be accompanied with a ‘Non GM cum GM Free’ certificate.
According to the FSSAI, the directive was issued as per FSS (Import Regulations), 2017 to reassure safe and sound quality of imports into the country.
The crops include, Apple, Argentina Canola, Alfalfa, Beans, Chicory, Cowpea (lobiya), Egg Plant (brinjal), Flax Seed, Maize (corn), Melon, Papaya, Pineapple, Plum, Polish Canola, Potato, Rice, Safflower, Soybean, Squash, Sugar Beet, Sugarcane, Sweet Pepper (colorful Shimla mirch), Tomato and Wheat.
The food importers are supposed to submit a detailed certification declaring that the food crops are non-GM origin and does not contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and also not genetically modified along with the name and address of the exporter, manufacturer and consignee, description of the product, invoice, lot/batch number, expiry date, quantity, date of manufacturing or packing, and date of shipment & place, amongst others, emphasizes the FSSAI Directive.