Govt Removes Riders On Import Of GM Edible Oil

AHMEDABAD: The ministry of commerce and industry has lifted the ban on import of edible oil sourced from genetically modified (GM) oilseeds. The move has come due to the country’s failure to meet the demands in the domestic market. India is the world’s leading importer of edible oils.

For this, the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) has deleted a condition on import of edible oils sourced from GM oilseeds. Prior to this, an importer was supposed to furnish a certificate in the format prescribed by the department of commerce and ministry of environment and forests and declare that he was not importing edible oil sourced from GM oilseeds.

The stringent criteria for import of edible oil was believed to be aimed at protecting farmers’ interests. However, according to a DGFT official, there was no scientific process to certify if the oil was sourced from normal or GM seeds.

“There was demand in the market and it was also not possible to segregate the normal edible oil from the oil sourced from GM oilseeds. We have already communicated the decision to the State Trading Corporation and MMTC,” said director general of foreign trade RS Gujral.

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.

According to this, GEAC approval would not be required for import of genetic modified soybean oil as the oil is not a living modified organism.

Meanwhile, the DGFT has begun a trial run of online filing of various documents by foreign traders. “We have started accepting trials on the online platform for certain procedures. We are expecting the project to be implemented in the next 3-6 months,” said Mr Gujral.

The DGFT has already put the duty entitlement passbook scheme online and plans to do the same with certain other documentation to save foreign traders time.