The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has identified 24 crops imported in India to mandatorily declare ‘Non GM cum GM Free’ certificate from January 1, 2021.
FSSAI, in an order to restrict the entry of Genetically Modified crops, has decided to issue a directive for requirement of ‘Non GM cum GM Free’ certificate accompanied with imported food consignment.
The directive said that the framing of regulations related to genetically modified or engineered food, which was governed by the Section 22 of the FSS Act, was taking time and to ensure only non-GM food crops are imported into India, it had been decided that every consignment of imported food products listed by the FSSAI had to be accompanied with a ‘GM Free certificate’ ‘Non GM cum GM Free’ certificate.
According to the FSSAI, the directive was issued as per FSS (Import Regulations), 2017, which is to ensure safe and wholesomeness of articles of food imported into India. The crops include Alfalfa, Apple, Argentina Canola, Bean, Chicory, Cowpea, Egg Plant, Flax Seed, Maize, Melon, Papaya, Pineapple, Plum, Polish Canola, Potato, Rice, Safflower, Soybean, Squash, Sugar Beet, Sugarcane, Sweet Pepper, Tomato and Wheat.
The food importers were asked to submit a detailed certificate declaring that the product was non-GM origin and did 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.
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