Activists object to food safety draft issued by FSSAI for GM crops

Activists object to food safety draft issued by FSSAI for GM crops

Subject: Science and Technology

Section : Biotechnology 

Context: A notification by the food safety regulatory body of India Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) over genetically modified organisms (GMO) has received several objections from a pan-Indian citizen’s platform

More on the News:

• The FSSAI, on November 15, 2021, released a draft notification on the food safety and standards for GMOs and sought public comments for consideration by a scientific panel.
• The Coalition for a GM-Free India is an informal network of scientists, farmers, activists, environmentalists and consumers working to keep India GM Free. The group has opposed the nod to the GM mustard variety Dhara Mustard Hybrid (DMH-11), citing environmental concerns.
• Coalition added long term and multi-generational tests, as the animals have a short life span, also need to be part of the approval process.
• Tests such as skin irritation test of animals, mucous member irritation on animals, sub-chronic oral toxicity, sub-chronic feeding studies, alkaloid tests, and chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity studies should be added to the process.

Draft rules for GM Foods:

• No one can manufacture or sell any food products or food ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) without prior approval.
• Specify norms that labs will need to adhere to for testing GM foods.
• The proposed regulations will apply to “Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) or Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEOs) or Living Modified Organism (LMOs) intended for direct use as food or for processing.”
• Genetically Modified Organisms or Genetically Engineered Organisms “shall not be used as an ingredient” in infant food products.
• Labelling norms for food products that contain 1% or more than one percent of GMO content.

Concerns:

• Farmers body Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) has raised objections to the FSSAI’s proposed draft regulations that weak regulations allow for backdoor entry of GMOs.
• Coalition said that there was no provision for a long term, comprehensive and independent testing regime
• Besides, it does not have provisions of independent data and public scrutiny.