The draft prohibited anyone from manufacturing, storing, distributing, selling, or importing food or food ingredients derived from GMOs without prior approval from the Food Authority.

It also proposed mandatory labelling for food products containing 1% or more of an individual genetically engineered (GE) ingredient. Such products would have to carry the declaration: “Contains GMO/Ingredients derived from GMO.”

For imports, the draft required the competent authority in the country of origin to issue a GMO certificate. The importer would then need to get the certificate endorsed or authenticated by the relevant Indian Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate in that country, or by the Embassy of the country of origin in India.

Following an inter-ministerial consultation, FSSAI released the draft notification for public consultation and invited comments and suggestions from stakeholders.