Food Industry To Maintain Image Of Being Supplier Of Non-GM Foods

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New Delhi, Dec 28: The buoyant processed food industry in the country has decided to maintain its image of a supplier of non-genetically modified (GM) foods to the European Union, Japan and Korea and other principal export destinations.

With the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety now in force and the consumers in the European Union expressing concerns about the safety of genetically modified (GM) foods, the domestic food processing industry has geared up to face this challenge.

The 59th AGM of the All India Food Processors’ Association (AIFPA) held in Delhi last week deliberated on various strategies for boosting exports including those relating to the compliance with the importing countries sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) norms and also for exporting certified non-GM foods.

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety empowers importing countries to reject export consignments if they contain traces of GM foods hazardous to health and environment.

Food processing is a key industrial sector for India. It accounts for a gross output of Rs 1.12 trillion, representing 6.3 per cent of GDP, involves 6 per cent of the total industrial investment, 13 per cent of exports and employs 18 per cent of the country’s industrial labour force.

The processed food industry has, therefore, urged the government to effectively implement the mandatory inspection at the points of entry so as to check the entry of illegal and unapproved GM foods and food ingredients into the country. However, the process of inspection should be scientific and not time-consuming.

Speaking to FE, the AIFPA executive director, KP Sareen said, “We have urged the government to facilitate us in becoming export competitive. There is a growing global market for Indian foods.

We need to establish ourselves as a credible player both in terms of quality and certification.”

Mr Manan Bhatt, vice president (business development) of Avesthagen Quality Agriculture Services (AQUAS) said “there is every possibility of GM food and food ingredients entering the country as the government does not have sophisticated testing facilities. Therefore, there are chances that these clandestinely imported GM food ingredients may be mixed up with processed foods meant for exports.”