November 11, 2019

India's biotech regulatory body to take up report on guidelines for importing DDGS

India's apex biotechnology regulatory body is expected to take up a report on the guidelines for import of dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) derived out of GM corn at its meeting scheduled in New Delhi on November 11, The Hindu reported.

The action undertaken by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) relates to a rising demand for the import of animal feed extracted from genetically modified (GM) crops to be permitted. 

A sub-committee constituted by the GEAC and headed by Lalitha Gowda, a retired scientist from the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru, has already submitted a report on the guidelines for import of DDGS for livestock and aqua feed.

The GEAC meeting to discuss the report is important due to the severe scarcity of corn, a key source of animal feed for India's poultry industry. The country's corn supply tightened as result of the failure of maize crop caused by drought and disease. Several applications from the poultry industry seeking permission to import GM corn and soybean are pending.

The sub-committee also included representatives from the agriculture and poultry sectors, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, National Dairy Research Institute, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. Although its report has been submitted, it is up to the GEAC to make a decision on permitting import.

The report was submitted along with an elaborate background note on DDGS.

Dismissing the concerns expressed by GM feed opponents, a food scientist ruled out the possibility of GM food entering the food chain when human beings consume livestock fed on a GM diet.

- The Hindu