Rice exporters seek Goyal’s intervention on China’s allegation of GMO presence in shipments
TREACG urged India’s government to intervene after China suspended registrations of seven Indian rice exporters over alleged GMO contamination. The association cited India’s non-GM rice policy and pre-shipment testing, seeking a joint technical review of sampling, testing and laboratory protocols to resolve discrepancies and restore registrations.
Seeking the Indian government’s intervention in the restoration of registrations of seven affected Indian rice exporters after China suspended them on alleged GMO contamination in some consignments, the Rice Exporters Association of Chhattisgarh (TREACG) has urged Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to take up the matter with the Chinese authorities and facilitate an early joint technical review.
Expressing serious concern over the suspension of registrations of seven Indian rice-exporting companies by China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) on alleged detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in certain rice consignments, TREACG said that both the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) have already clarified that commercial cultivation of GM rice is not permitted in India.
“Further, the concerned export consignments had undergone the prescribed non-GMO testing and certification process prior to shipment from India,” TREACG said in a statement.
Key technical issue
According to the association, differing GMO-related test results reported at destination despite non-GMO testing and certification at origin constitute an important technical matter. Therefore, the issue merits scientific, transparent and fact-based engagement between the competent authorities of both countries.
Requesting the intervention of Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, TREACG in a letter urged him to take up the matter with the Chinese Government and facilitate an early technical review and restoration of the GACC registrations of the seven affected Indian companies, subject to appropriate technical examination and verification.
The exporters’ body has suggested that a joint scientific and technical review may be undertaken by the competent authorities of both countries, covering sampling procedures, GMO testing methodologies, laboratory protocols and applicable standards. Such an initiative could help identify the reasons for differences in test results and establish a transparent and mutually acceptable mechanism to prevent recurrence of similar issues in the future, it said.
Amicable settlement needed
According to Mukesh Jain, President of TREACG, an early, positive and amicable resolution of the matter would be an important step towards maintaining confidence and continuity in the India–China rice trade, safeguarding India’s agricultural export interests, and protecting Indian exporters, particularly by MSMEs, from avoidable financial and commercial difficulties.
In March this year, China rejected three consignments of rice from three Indian exporters, citing those had traces of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and later suspended their licences. As the rejection of rice consignments increased on the same grounds, the names of four more companies were added to the list of exporters whose licences were revoked/suspended.
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Source : The Hindu Business Line
