Unknown to regulators, GM food has entered India.

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Indian import policy on GM food flawedSify, May 12, 2006http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news & doc_id=12771 & start=1 & control=202 & page_start=1 & page_nr=101 & pg=1MUMBAI - The country's ham-handed approach to regulating import of genetically modified (GM) foods is not only turning increasingly curious, but also fast becoming a joke in international circles.There is a strong suspicion that the Union Government is playing into the hands of some influential sections in the matter of pre-import clearance relating to GM foods.Worse, there is no real stakeholder consultation before crucial decisions that hurt stakeholder interests are taken. Lack of transparency in

decision-making, vagueness in drafting notification and inordinate delays in issuing clarification are seen distorting the market and helping speculators reap windfall gains.Sudden awarenessThe policymakers seem to have suddenly woken up from deep slumber and realised that large quantities of GM food are entering the country.Admittedly, the Environment (Protection) Act and its Rules have been in place since 1989; but none in the Government bothered to implement the rules. The latest Exim policy announced by the Commerce Minister on April 7 mandated pre-import clearance of GM foods from Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC). What prompted the Commerce Ministry to introduce the restriction at this point of time remains a mystery; but it is conceivable, the decision was at the insistence of the Environment Ministry.Regulatory failureA senior official in the Ministry of Environment

and Forests went to the extent of stating (nay, admitting) that even though the rules (mandating pre-import approval) have been in force since December 5, 1989, "no requests for commercial import and marketing of GM food have been received by the Ministry".Sad taleThis is a sad commentary on the Ministry's surveillance capabilities and ability to co-ordinate with other Government departments concerned. It is a regulatory failure that raises grave issues of competence and integrity, and deserves to be thoroughly investigated.The fact of the matter is that GM foods and other GM products such as cotton have been entering this country for several years now without any Government department bothering to be vigilant. The ministries that ought to be concerned with any food import are Commerce (Exim Policy); Food and Consumer Affairs (consumer protection); Agriculture (farmers protection and plant quarantine);

Finance (customs - revenue); and Health (quality inspection by port health organization). In addition, since 1989, the Ministry of Environment and Forests and GEAC have been charged with the responsibility to monitor and regulate GM imports.Mute spectatorIronically, soyabean oil imports have been going on for long years, primarily to bridge the domestic demand-supply gap of edible oil. India imported several lakh tonnes of corn (maize) during 2000 and 2001 while our cotton imports (especially from the US) are continuing.It is no 'state secret' that a significant part of these imports were/are GM products. It is well-known that soyabean produced in major origins such as the US, Brazil and Argentina are largely genetically modified and these countries neither segregate GM and non-GM materials, nor do they follow any labelling policy.A large part of imported cotton (India used to import 10 lakh to 20

lakh bales, and now reduced to 5-6 lakh bales) is Bt. cotton from USA and other origins.There have been several media reports in the past about arrival of GM foods into the country without appropriate permission. Business Line itself carried not less than four reports about unauthorised import of GM products (BL June 16, 2000; December 1, 2000; December 29, 2000; April 8, 2002); but the Government remained a mute witness to the goings on.Farcical talkIn a meeting on May 2 convened by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to discuss guidelines for obtaining GEAC permission, two multinational corporations - Cargill and Monsanto - were said to be present, while other parties concerned, including the domestic soyabean processing and refining industries, were not sent any intimation."This is a farcical stakeholder consultation", fumed an agitated representative of the processing industry. Given the

origin of the two MNCs, it is not unreasonable to conclude that American interests are perhaps influencing the policy, commented another domestic player.Interestingly, on May 5, the Commerce Ministry announced that the April 7 decision would be kept in abeyance for three months. What is sought to be achieved in the interregnum is anybody's guess.Adding to uncertaintyIndeed, the Government has merely added to the existing uncertain conditions which will continue for another two months. If the Commerce Ministry was convinced about its April 7 decision, there was no need to keep the policy in abeyance.On the other hand, if the policy decision was a mistake, the Ministry should have honourably admitted and withdrawn the notification.From April 7 until May 4, speculators in the soyabean oil market made a killing on the futures exchanges by jacking up the price artificially by over Rs 4,000 a tonne.

The price rise was totally unjustified given the demand-supply fundamentals. The disconnect between 'spot' and 'futures' was too stark for comfort.Unfortunately, the entire Government machinery including the futures market regulator - Forward Markets Commission - remained a mute witness to unchecked speculative spree, which hurt consumer interest and did not advance growers' interest. It only helped speculators make money. "Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest of life by the power of the spirit." - Aurobindo.

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