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3.188. The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) specifies the standards for ingredients, additives, contaminants, pesticide residues, and biological hazards. (...)

3.192. The manufacture, import, research and release of GMOs, and of GMO products, are regulated by the Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro-Organisms, Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. In order to implement the Rules, six competent authorities were created under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) (Table 3.29).

3.193. The Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM), in the MoEF&CC's Department of Biotechnology, developed the Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that regulate activities involving the use of GMOs in R&D and in industrial and environmental applications, to ensure human health and environmental safety. All projects are reviewed by the RCGM to ensure compliance with the Guidelines and SOPs; subsequently, the production, sale, importation and use of hazardous microorganisms, GMOs or cells may be restricted or prohibited.

Table 3.29 Competent authorities
Authorities; Role
Advisory
(...)

Regulatory/ approval:
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC); Monitors the safety of research projects involving hazardous microorganisms, GMOs, and products thereof;
Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM); Develops the Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to regulate the use of GMOs in R&D and in industrial and environmental applications;
Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC); Implements biosafety guidelines in institutions handling hazardous microorganisms and/or GMOs.

Monitoring:
State Biotechnology Coordination Committee (SBCC); Inspects, investigates and takes punitive action in the case of violations of statutory provisions. Periodically reviews the safety of measures applied at various institutions handling GMOs;
District Level Committee (DLC); Monitors the implementations of safety regulations in installations engaged in the use of GMOs/hazardous microorganisms, and their application in the environment.

3.194. The RCGM issues the clearance letters/import permits for GMOs; however, these must be authorized by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC). The RCGM may also visit the sites where recombinant DNA projects are carried out, to ensure compliance with the Guidelines and SOPs.

3.224. As with imports, India continues to grant special privileges to export certain products through STEs to, inter alia, (...) and ensure conservation and proper utilization of natural resources (minerals). [234]

[234] WTO document G/STR/N/15/IND, 8 November 2018.

3.228. Government procurement is estimated at 30% of GDP. [242]

[242] CCI, Competition Act, 2002: Provisions Relating to Public Procurement, Advocacy Series 9. Viewed at: https://www.cci.gov.in/sites/default/files/advocacy_booklet_document/pp.pdf; and OECD (2014), Smart Procurement – Going green: best practices for green procurement – India. Viewed at: https://www.oecd.org/governance/procurement/toolbox/search/india-best-practices-green-public- procurement-gpp-market-capacity-cost-benefit-assessment.pdf.

3.231. Over the review period, the General Financial Rules (GFRs) were amended several times (including in 2017, 2019 and 2020). Some of these amendments include: (...) (ix) environmental considerations in procurement process were included; (...)

4.2. (...) In May 2019, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying was created to include departments previously under the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. The new Ministry is responsible for policies relating to livestock production, preservation, protection from disease, and fisheries. (...)

Table 4.2 Bodies responsible for formulating and implementing agricultural policy
Body; Responsibility
(...)
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying; (...) preservation, protection from disease, and fisheries.
(...)
Ministry of Jal Shakti; To manage the use of water resources, including irrigation projects
(...)