KARACHI:
The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) recently ordered the release of the withheld consignments of imported soybean seeds and instructed officials to process pending applications of the Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) soybean importers and report compliance within seven days. This decision comes as a surprise as the Federal Ministry for Food Security had initially blocked the import of GMO soybeans as all GMO food and animal products are banned in the country.
The FTO is not responsible for monitoring food safety; thus, it should not have been allowed to clear cargo. The importers should have resold the stock to international buyers and imported non-GMO soybean, which is easily available. However, they resorted to manipulation and pressure. According to the importers, the stock will be used for animal feed and manufacturing cooking oil. This is concerning as genetically modified products contain altered DNA to make them more resistant to drought, pests and diseases that can reduce crop yield. This means that people will be ingesting plant and viral material, which can be harmful.
Authorities will most likely not act against this blatant subversion of food safety laws. Nonetheless, I urge the Ministry of Food Security to either prohibit the use of GMO soybean or release the names of companies using them so people can avoid purchasing their items to protect their health.
Shahryar Khan
Peshawar
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2022.
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