Draft Food Safety and Standards (Genetically Modified or Engineered Foods) Regulations, 2021
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on November 15, 2021 has issued Draft Food Safety and Standards (Genetically Modified or Engineered Foods) Regulations, 2021. The Regulation shall be applicable to: Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) or Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEOs) or Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) intended for direct use as food or for processing. Food or Processed food containing Genetically Modified ingredients produced from but not containing LMOs or GEOs or GMOs. The Provisions under the Draft Food Safety and Standards (Genetically Modified or Engineered Foods) Regulations, 2021 are as follows: No person shall manufacture, store, distribute, sell or import in the country any food or food ingredient, as the case may be, derived from Genetically Modified Organisms, except with the prior approval of the Food Authority. Procedure for grant of prior approval. Any food laboratory notified in accordance with section 43 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 may be designated for Genetically Modified Foods Testing having the mentioned pre-requisite. Function of Foods Laboratory for Genetically Modified Foods Testing. In Form-I which specifies “Application for Approval for food or food ingredient or processing aid containing Living Modified Organism (LMOs)”. In Form-II which specifies “Application for Approval of food or food ingredient or processing aid derived from Genetically Modified Ingredients but not containing Living Modified Organism (LMOs) in the end product”.
