India: Indian government resumes GM-origin soybean meal imports

On May 2, 2022, the Ministry of Consumer, Food and Public Distribution, through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced approval for the importation of an additional 550,000 metric tons (MT) of soybean meal (including GE derived). This import quota is the remaining amount unfilled from the Indian government’s previous 1.2 million metric tons (MMT) quota established in August 2021. India is permitting imports to run through September 30, 2022; bills of lading must be dated on or before this date. This move was made as a response to high soybean meal prices to alleviate India’s poultry and livestock industry, for which this meal is a critical feed input.