Any DDGS imports from US may be subject to India’s biosecurity review

Under the interim India-US trade framework pact, DDGS for animal feed will be allowed into India, subject to a tariff-rate quota (TRQ), once the deal comes into effect.

The proposed imports of dried distillers' grains with solubles, or DDGS, from the US have drawn concern due to their genetically modified origins, though a government official said any imports would be subject to India’s biosecurity and quarantine rules.

Under the interim India-US trade framework pact, DDGS for animal feed will be allowed into India, subject to a tariff-rate quota (TRQ), once the deal comes into effect.

The joint statement outlining the framework for an interim agreement between the two countries, released on February 6, said: “India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains (DDGS), red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional products.”

DDGs are a high-protein animal feed ingredient produced as a by-product of ethanol manufacturing, typically derived from corn.

Since most DDGS from the US are derived from genetically modified corn, the agreement is likely to ensure that while limited imports are permitted, actual shipments will depend on compliance with India’s biosecurity requirements, the person said.

“We have not agreed to allow any GM food. Anything that comes into the country will have to meet our biosecurity standards, and there is a technical committee that examines such issues. DDGS imports will also have to comply with these biosecurity requirements, and any decision will depend on an assessment of biosecurity concerns,” the person said.

The commerce ministry did not respond to an email seeking comment on the matter.

GM crops refer to plants that have been genetically altered to make them resistant to insects or disease or increase their nutritional value.

Under India’s regulatory framework, any GM crop or product must clear two separate approval tracks before entering the market.

One of them, governed by the rules framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, requires prior clearance from the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), which evaluates biosafety data before permitting import, field trials, or environmental release of any genetically engineered organism.

Separately, food products derived from GM organisms fall under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, administered by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Draft GM food regulations issued by FSSAI require manufacturers or importers to seek prior approval supported by safety data, and, where applicable, proof of GEAC clearance.

In effect, GM crops intended for cultivation require environmental clearance, while GM-derived foods or feed products must also undergo food safety assessment before manufacture, sale, or import.