December 31, 2007

India GMO rules won't apply to soyoil imports till new order

India's restrictions on imports of genetically modified soyoil in 2006 won't be implemented till further orders are issued, the federal government said on Friday (December 27, 2007).

The restrictions were due to be implemented on soyoil imports from Jan. 1.

This is the fourth deferment in the implementation of rules for genetically modified soyoil imports.

On April 7, 2006, the government released its annual foreign trade policy, which made it compulsory for all genetically modified imports to carry a "declaration" of their genetic status.

Under the policy, any imported food or feed product that contains GM material will only be allowed in the country with the approval of the government's Genetic Engineering Approval Committee.

The edible oil industry has expressed concern that the new policy could delay soyoil imports, which are mostly made from genetically modified soys.

However, May 5, 2006, a government notification put the policy in abeyance until July 7, 2006, and by another notification further extended the postponement to March 31, 2007.

In March it had extended the postponement till Dec. 31.

India is one of the largest importers of soyoil by volume.