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THE inter-ministerial meeting convened by the Environment Ministry to discuss the various issues on import of genetically-modified foods and products has come about not a day too soon.

Worldwide, policy-makers are endeavouring to address food safety issues and strengthening institutional structures and regulatory frameworks. Several countries have put in place such structures for scientific assessment of any matter that may have direct or indirect effect on the safety of the food supply.

The use of biotechnology in agriculture and food production is the subject of intense debate. The relationship between biotechnology, food safety, and the environment is still being explored. Several countries have introduced, or proposed, mandatory labelling of GM foods on demands for more consumer information and choice.

With so many developed and developing nations still assessing the costs and risks of encouraging agricultural biotechnology — with no one wanting to lose out on the benefits the frontier technology can bring — it is imperative for India to move forward, but with utmost caution. With nearly 65 per cent of the population dependent on agriculture and related activities for livelihood, with a quarter of the population admittedly living below the poverty line (less than $1 per day), pervasive malnutrition and poor social safety net, introduction of radical changes in food consumption may be fraught with dangers, known and unknown.

There is neither knowledge nor infrastructure to check import of GM foods. Our ports are poorly equipped to test and ascertain whether what enters the country is a GM product or not.

Some of the commodities being imported — like soyabean oil and cotton — are without doubt GM products. But the government has remained largely unconcerned, despite the law that requires a licence for import of GM products. Without a proper institutional structure and mechanism to test GM products, it is futile to talk about regulating imports. Installation of testing facilities, training for technicians and introduction of sampling and analytical methods must receive priority.

But given the antiquated facilities at various ports, inadequately qualified personnel and financial constraints, the capability of the government to regulate imports remains a serious challenge. Food safety has never been high on the priority list of the government. Our food laws are followed more in the breach. Highly decentralised production in the food processing sector and lack of adequate manpower to monitor quality have left the consumers with little choice and less knowledge about the quality of products they pay for.

There is no doubt that agricultural biotechnology is an evolving science and has the potential to deliver extraordinary benefits to those in need. No one can stop the march of science and the prudent will take advantage of it. It is the flip side that a country like India has to be careful about.

G. Chandra Shekhar

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