Environment Ministry, ICAR deny GM-rice is cultivated in India in communication to the export promotion authority.

By Prabhudatta Mishra

India’s agri export promotion body APEDA has received communication from the Environment Ministry and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) that genetically modified (GM) rice is not allowed for cultivation, making the country free from GMO risk while exporting the cereal.

APEDA has the communication from regulatory authorities with regard to GMO crops as the agency plans to challenge the Chinese decision of rejecting some Indian consignments for alleged contamination with genetically modified material.

In an office memorandum issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change’s Biosafety Division on April 28, APEDA has been informed that the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), the regulatory authority for GM crops, has not approved any GM rice in India. The response comes after APEDA wanted a clarity from the Ministry on April 10 so that it can take up the issue with China.

“Further, this Ministry vide OM No 12013/3/2020-CS-III dated 30.03.2022 has exempted Genome-Edited plants falling under the categories SDN1 and SDN2, which are free of exogenous introduced DNA, from the provisions of Rule 7 to 11 (both inclusive) of the Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells Rules 1989’ (Rules 1989),” the Ministry said.

No research on GM rice

Earlier on April 23, ICAR’s Assistant Director-General S K Pradhan wrote to APEDA on the same subject. He conveyed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has not recommended any GM rice for commercial cultivation in the country.

“Moreover, no research work on GMO is being undertaken in any rice programme of the National Agricultural Research System under the aegis of ICAR. All the varieties released and notified in India and currently in seed chain are non-GM rice varieties/hybrids. Hence, all rice cultivated commercially in India is non-GMO,” he said and had suggested APEDAto approach GEAC for more information.

Published Date: April 30, 2026