Activists slam union government over illegal sale of GM maizev

Environmental activists have raised concerns about the illegal cultivation of genetically modified (GM) maize in Tamil Nadu and its presence in commercially sold processed foods and unprocessed maize grains across India.

In a letter to multiple regulatory authorities, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), and the Ministry of Commerce, activists demanded immediate action against violators.

They also called for the withdrawal of all products made from GM maize from the market.

India has stringent regulations to prevent the entry of GM food crops and the sale of products derived from GM foods. In March 2021, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) mandated a GM-free certificate and a non-GM origin certificate for importing 24 food crops, including maize (Zea mays). However, evidence suggests this order may have been flouted.

A coalition of environmental activists, GM-Free India, cited findings from a research paper by scientists at the Thanjavur-based National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), under the Department of Food Biotechnology. The study uncovered evidence of illegal GM maize cultivation and the presence of GM maize in processed foods.