India Accepts Global Living Organisms Protocol

India has become a party to the first international regulatory framework in respect of living modified organisms (LMOs) by submitting instruments of ratification of Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to United Nations headquarters.

The Protocol seeks to ensure safe transfer, handling and use of LMOs and protect biological diversity from potential risks posed by LMOs. It establishes procedures for ensuring that countries were provided with necessary information when taking decisions on import of LMOs.

Till date, 43 countries have ratified the Protocol. It will come into force after seven more countries ratify it.

The environment and forests ministry has convened an inter-ministerial meeting on genetically modified crop/food policy on Wednesday to address adequacy of existing regulations in respect of GM imports, adequacy of risk assessment and management infrastructure, relative responsibility of various ministries and agencies, issues of labelling and mechanism for certification of products both for export and import, marketing of transgenic seeds and mechanism to enhance public consultation and consumer awareness.

The meeting will be attended by senior officials from ministries of environment, agriculture, commerce, health, external affairs and food processing industries. It will take up policy issues on food crops, food products, commercial crops and animal feed.

The department of bio-technology, Indian Council of Medical Research and Indian Council of Agricultural Research will participate in the deliberations.