NGOs seek action against companies selling GM food product without disclosing its content
Noting that the transgenic food products are being sold in Indian markets without being mandatorily labeled as "GM" (Genetically Modified), a forum of civil society groups on Monday wrote to the ministry of consumer affairs asking it to take action against those who are selling such product without declaring its genetically engineered content.
A coalition for GM Free India - the forum comprising many civil society groups - alleged that cotton seed oil from BT Cotton andgenetically modified soybean oil were being marketed by flouting the government's existing rules to this effect.
Pointing out that the government had in January this year made it mandatory for any genetically modified (GM) food product sold in Indian markets to be labeled as "GM", the Coalition in its letter to the ministry said that consumers would logically and rightfully expect that any packaged food with GM should carry the label to alert them and to make 'choice' possible for them.
Highlighting how the government machinery has failed to implement its rules over GM food products, Rajesh Krishnan, co-convenor of the Coalition, said, "It is an open secret that while no GM food crop has been approved for commercialization in our country, cotton seed oil from Bt Cotton is being sold without any monitoring or labeling....It is unfortunate that Indians are forced to eat it (transgenic food product) without being given a choice."
The Coalition's letter to the ministry pointed to the fact that these products do not conform to the labeling requirement imposed by the Legal Metrology Act Amendment last year. The existing rule says that "every package containing the genetically modified food shall bear at the top of its principal display panel the words GM".
Bringing it to the notice of the ministry, the group pointed out that cotton seed oil and soybean oil are being used in different parts of the country as cooking medium. While cotton seed oil is being processed locally, soybean oil is being imported through a one-time clearance provided by Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee ( GEAC) of the ministry of environment and forest.
"However, no soybean oil package sold in the country or other products which contain such imported soybean oil from GM Soy are being marked as such, despite the new notification coming into effect from the 1st of January 2013", said the coalition in its letter to B N Dixit, director (legal metrology) in the ministry of consumer affairs.
Reiterating its request for implementation of the notification through pro-active action, the coalition said since the labeling law had come into effect from January, consumers would logically and rightfully expect that any packaged food with GM would carry the label to alert them and to make informed consumer choice possible. TOI
Noting that the transgenic food products are being sold in Indian markets without being mandatorily labeled as "GM" (Genetically Modified), a forum of civil society groups on Monday wrote to the ministry of consumer affairs asking it to take action against those who are selling such product without declaring its genetically engineered content.
A coalition for GM Free India - the forum comprising many civil society groups - alleged that cotton seed oil from BT Cotton andgenetically modified soybean oil were being marketed by flouting the government's existing rules to this effect.
Pointing out that the government had in January this year made it mandatory for any genetically modified (GM) food product sold in Indian markets to be labeled as "GM", the Coalition in its letter to the ministry said that consumers would logically and rightfully expect that any packaged food with GM should carry the label to alert them and to make 'choice' possible for them.
Highlighting how the government machinery has failed to implement its rules over GM food products, Rajesh Krishnan, co-convenor of the Coalition, said, "It is an open secret that while no GM food crop has been approved for commercialization in our country, cotton seed oil from Bt Cotton is being sold without any monitoring or labeling....It is unfortunate that Indians are forced to eat it (transgenic food product) without being given a choice."
The Coalition's letter to the ministry pointed to the fact that these products do not conform to the labeling requirement imposed by the Legal Metrology Act Amendment last year. The existing rule says that "every package containing the genetically modified food shall bear at the top of its principal display panel the words GM".
Bringing it to the notice of the ministry, the group pointed out that cotton seed oil and soybean oil are being used in different parts of the country as cooking medium. While cotton seed oil is being processed locally, soybean oil is being imported through a one-time clearance provided by Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee ( GEAC) of the ministry of environment and forest.
"However, no soybean oil package sold in the country or other products which contain such imported soybean oil from GM Soy are being marked as such, despite the new notification coming into effect from the 1st of January 2013", said the coalition in its letter to B N Dixit, director (legal metrology) in the ministry of consumer affairs.
Reiterating its request for implementation of the notification through pro-active action, the coalition said since the labeling law had come into effect from January, consumers would logically and rightfully expect that any packaged food with GM would carry the label to alert them and to make informed consumer choice possible. TOI
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