Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India does not import apples from the United States

Question

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India does not import apples from the United States of America. Statement-II: In India, the law prohibits the import of Genetically Modified food without the approval of the competent authority. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

In February, 2024, US lawmakers and apple growers celebrated the export of apples to India this year, which is 16 times more than last year after India decided to drop the 20 per cent retaliatory tariff put in 2019 on American products. Earlier in 2019, in retaliation for the then-Trump Administration's decision to revoke India's trade benefits under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme in March 2019, India imposed several retaliatory tariffs on American products, including Apple. Hence, statement-I is not correct. As per the import policy of Genetically Modified Food, Feed, Genetically Modified Organism (GMOs) and Living Modified Organisms (LMOs), import of GM food requires prior approval of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) constituted by the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change. Import of food products is also regulated under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSAI), 2006. Indian Customs can clear food products including Genetically Modified (GM) food products only after necessary approval/No Objection Certificate (NOC) by FSSAI. Hence, statement-II is correct.