GM Food Crops Regulation

Subject – Environment

Context – Regulation of GM food subject to life inside it: Activists decry Centre’s strange decision.

Concept –

The Environment (Protection) Act 1989 Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro Organisms / Genetically Engineered Organisms (GMOs) or Cells are clearly applicable to not just genetically engineered organisms or living modified organisms (LMOs), but also products and substances related to LMOs.
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), which functions under the environment ministry, is responsible for the clearance to GM crops.
GEAC should perform safety assessment on products and substances derived from GMOs as well. The GEAC could not abdicate its responsibility towards regulating to protect the environment, nature and health.
The Food and Safety Standards Authority of India or FSSAI told the ministry of fisheries that animal feed was not regulated under the FSSAI Act, 2006 as anything that was non-food (not consumed by humans) was not part of its mandate.