India Lifts Ban on GM Edible Oil Import

Fearing a failure to meet the domestic demand for oil, India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has lifted the ban on the import of edible oil extracted from GM oilseeds. India is the world’s leading importer of edible oil. There is no scientific process that can differentiate oils sourced from GM seeds to those extracted from ordinary ones, as oil contains no DNA. Before this, stringent criteria for the import of edible oil were being enforced. An importer was required to supply a certificate in the format prescribed by the Department of Commerce and Ministry of Environment and Forests, and declare that imported edible oil was not sourced from GM oilseeds.

Similarly, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has also issued a notification granting limited exemption for producers from seeking approval of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) to produce, sell, import or use food stuffs, ingredients in food stuffs and additives, including processing aids derived from living modified organisms, where the end product is not a living modified organism. Under this exemption, GEAC approval will not be required for the import of soybean oil.

For more information read http://commerce.nic.in/