India: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual

India remains undecided on genetically engineered (GE) crops and products derived from biotechnology (biotech) for food and feed use. Bt cotton (Bacillus thuringiensis) remains the sole biotech-derived crop fully approved for commercial cultivation, though regulatory authorities have also now granted biosafety authorization for environmental release of GE eggplant and mustard events. Soybean and canola oils derived from select GE soybean and canola events, along with some food ingredients from microbial biotechnology are approved for import. In August 2021, India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry allowed the import of 1.2 million metric tons (MMT) of crushed and de-oiled soy cakes (i.e., soybean meal) derived from GE soybeans as a non-LMO GE product import. India, however, continues to drag its feet on the issue of granting market access for similar products such as distillers dried grains with solubles and soymeal derived from GE crops (i.e., corn and soybean, respectively), and GE alfalfa hay.