The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India has accepted the
recommendation of Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and issued the
Draft Rules to amend Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 for Labeling of
Genetically Modified Food for objections / suggestions if any. We reproduce
here below the Notification dated 10th March 2006.

For any suggestions please contact Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare


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DRAFT RULES TO AMEND PREVENTION OF FOOD ADULTERATION RULES, 1955

Copy of
NOTIFICATION dated 10 th March 2006

The following draft of certain rules further to amend the Prevention of Food
Adulteration Rules, 1955, which the Central Government, after consultation with
the Central Committee for Food Standards, proposes to make, in exercise of the
powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 23 of the Prevention of Food
Adulteration Act, 1954 (37 of 1954), is hereby published, as required by the
said sub-section, for the information of all persons likely to be affected
thereby, and notice is hereby given that the said draft rules will be taken into
consideration after the expiry of a period of sixty days from the date on which
copies of the Official Gazette in which this notification is published, are made
available to the public.

2. (1) Objections or suggestions, if any, in respect of the draft rules, may be
addressed to the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of
India, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi - 110 011.

(2) The objections and suggestions, which may be received from any person with
respect to the said draft rules before the expiry of the period so specified,
will be considered by the Central Government.

DRAFT RULES

1.(1) These rules may be called the Prevention of Food Adulteration (...
Amendment) Rules, 2006.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their final publication in
the Official Gazette.
2.In the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 (hereinafter referred to as
the said rules, ) after rule 37D, the following shall be inserted, namely, -

(i) "37- E Labeling of Genetically Modified Food -
Genetically engineered or modified Foods means food and food ingredients
composed of or containing genetically modified or engineered organisms obtained
through modern biotech-nology, or food and food ingredients produced from but
not contained genetically modified or engineered organisms obtained through
modern biotechnology;

In addition to the labeling provisions as prescribed under these rules, the
Genetically Modified Food shall also conform to the following labeling
requirements:-
(a) a GM Food, derived there from, whether it is primary or processed or
any ingredient of food, food additives or any food product that may contain GM
material shall be compulsorily labeled, without any exceptions;
(b) the label of all package (s) of GM Food(s) or foods containing
ingredients, derived from Biotechnology or Bioengineering or food additives or
any food product that may contain GM material shall indicate that they have
been subject to genetic modification. These provisions will be applicable to
all such products both imported or domestically produced; and
(c) the label of imported GM Food or derived there from, whether it is
primary or processed or any ingredient of food, food additives or any food
product that may contain GM material shall also indicate that the product has
been cleared for marketing and use in the country of origin so that the
verification, if needed can be taken up with that country without having to
resort to testing."

(ii) After rule 48-E of the said rules, the following shall be
inserted, namely, -

"48-F Restriction on Sale of Genetically Modified Food: - No person shall except
with approval of and subject to the conditions that may be imposed by the
Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) constituted under the Environment
Protection Act, 1986, manufacture, import, transport, store, distribute or sell
raw or processed food or any ingredient of food, food additives or any food
product that may contain GM material in the country:

Provided that in case of imported genetically modified foods, the importer shall
submit documents supporting the purported clearance at the time of import."

Sd/-

(Rita Teaotia)

Jt.Secretary
G.S.R.152(E)
F.No.P.15014/14/2005-P.H. (Food)
Issued by: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
(Department of Health) New Delhi.