FSSAI has extended the date for the requirement of Non-GM cum GM free certificate which needs to accompany certain imported food consignments. The consignment of foods that require Non-GM and GM Free certificate include foods like apples, beans, Argentina canola, melon maize, papaya, pineapple, soya bean, rice, potato etc. The Food Authority had FSSAI issued the order for the requirement of the Non-GM and GM free certification in the exercise of its power to issue guidelines/ advisories/orders to ensure the safety and wholesomeness of articles of food that are imported into India.
In its order dated 21 August 2020 the FSSAI had stated that henceforth Non-GM cum GM Free certificate must accompany certain imported food consignments.. This order of the FSSAI was to be effective from 1 January 2021. FSSAI has now extended this date by two months and the implementation of the order for the requirement of Non-GM cum GM Free certificate to accompany certain food imports will now be effective from 1 March 2021.
Pending the framing of the regulations related to Genetically Engineered or Modified Foods as envisaged in Section 22 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the FSSAI has decided that every consignment of imported food products that it has listed out in Annexure I of the 21 August 2020 order shall be accompanied with a Non-GM origin Cum GM free certificate which must be in the format that FSSAI has provided in the same order and must be issued by a Competent National Authority of the exporting country. The complete list of imported foods that require the non-GM and GM Free foods as well as the format for the certificate is available at the following web address https://foodsafetyhelpline.com/fssai-notification-on-requirement-of-non-gm-cum-gm-free-certificate-for-some-imported-food-consignments/
