55% of cooking oil is from countries with GM Crops

Subject :Science and Technology

Context:

Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav in a recent interview at the express adda said that about 55-60 percent of the cooking oil that India consumes is imported from countries where genetically modified crops are permitted.

What is GM crops;

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any living organism whose genetic material has been modified to include certain desirable techniques.
In crops, genetic modification involves the manipulation of DNA instead of using controlled pollination, the conventional method to improve crops to alter certain characteristics of the crop.
To genetically modify a crop, the gene of interest is identified and isolated from the host organism. It is then incorporated into the DNA of the crop to be grown.
Then the performance of the GM crop is tested under strict laboratory and field conditions.

What is Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC):

It functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Composition:
- It is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
- Presently, it has 24 members and meets every month to review the applications in the areas indicated above.
Functions:
- As per Rules, 1989, it is responsible for appraisal of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.
- It is also responsible for appraisal of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials.
- It evaluates research into GM plants and recommends, or disapproves, their release into farmer fields.

What is the legal position of genetically modified crops in India:

In 2002, the GEAC had allowed the commercial release of Bt cotton.
Use of the unapproved GM variant can attract a jail term of 5 years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh under the Environmental Protection Act,1989.
The Central government had for the first time exempted certain types of genome-edited crops from the stringent regulations applicable on genetically modified or GM crops, paving the way for further R&D on them.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests had, in the order, exempted SDN1 and SDN2 genome edited plants from Rules 7-11 of the Environment Protect Act for manufacture, use or import or export and storage of hazardous microorganisms or genetically engineered organisms or cells rules-1989.
FSSAI issued an order on February 8, 2021, setting the permissible limit for genetically modified organisms in imported food crops at 1%.

What is the State of Edible Oil Sector in India

India is one of the largest producers of oilseeds in the world.
India is the world’s second-largest consumer and number one importer of vegetable oil ad meets its nearly 55% to 60% of its edible oil demand through imports
Palm oil (Crude + Refined) constitutes roughly around 62% of the total edible oils imported and are imported mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia, while Soyabean oil (22%) is imported from Argentina and Brazil and Sunflower oil (15%) is imported mainly from Ukraine and Russia.