The Rajasthan High Court has put a temporary stop to the sale, manufacture, distribution, and import of any genetically modified (GM) food products in India. This decision comes after the court ordered the government and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to create clear regulations for GM foods within the next six months. The ruling, issued by the Jaipur Bench of the High Court on October 13, follows concerns raised by the Supreme Court in July 2024 regarding genetic technologies in our food.
The court stressed that no GM food, including edible oils, whether produced in India or brought from other countries, should reach Indian homes without proper legal checks. Parliamentary committees had previously warned about this issue. The High Court also directed the FSSAI and the Union Government to put Section 22 of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 into effect. This section is important for setting standards and safety rules for genetically modified foods.
The Coalition for a GM-Free India, a group against GM foods, welcomed this decision. They pointed out that the Supreme Court’s earlier judgment mentioned implementing Section 23 of the FSSAI Act, which deals with labelling, without having a strong regulatory system for safety as required by Section 22. The High Court’s order is seen as very important at this time. There are reports that the United States has been trying to sell its GM products in India, which could affect India’s own laws and policies.
Concerns have also been raised that the Indian government might be changing its stance on GM foods. The Coalition explained that the new ruling means companies cannot simply self-certify their products as GM-free. Instead, only an authorised agency in the country exporting food to India can certify that all food items are indeed GM-free. In the past, the U.S. government reportedly made it harder for the FSSAI to regulate processed GM foods by opposing new rules. The FSSAI had previously stated that certain food products did not contain GM ingredients, even though environmental groups like the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had found illegal GM foods in India. This statement from the FSSAI was worrying, especially when some food companies had admitted to using GM ingredients on their product labels.
Kavitha Kuruganti, who speaks for the Coalition for a GM-Free India, highlighted that this court order reminds regulatory bodies like the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) and the FSSAI about their duties. She stated, “GEAC and FSSAI have consistently failed to perform their statutory duty to ensure biosafety and food safety, thereby protecting the Indian public.” She added, “The High Court’s order ensures that ordinary Indians are not made scapegoats due to American pressure on the Indian government.” This ruling aims to protect consumers and ensure that food safety regulations are followed strictly.