Consider the following statements:
- Statement-I: India does not import apples from the United States of America.
- Statement-II: In India, the law prohibits the import of Genetically Modified food without the approval of the competent authority.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
India does import apples from the United States, so Statement-I is wrong. Statement-II is right: the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 bars the import of genetically modified articles of food except as the Act and its regulations permit.
- ✗ Statement-I The Ministry of Commerce and Industry records apple imports from the USA of US$ 5.27 million in FY 2022-23, down from US$ 145 million in FY 2018-19 after India imposed an additional 20% duty on US apples in 2019. Imports fell but never stopped, and in June 2023 India announced it would remove that extra duty.
- ✓ Statement-II Section 22 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 says that, save as otherwise provided under the Act and its regulations, no person shall manufacture, distribute, sell or import genetically modified articles of food. Such food can therefore enter only where the law permits it.
Remember · India does import US apples (US$ 5.27 million in FY 2022-23). Section 22 of the FSS Act 2006 bars import of GM food articles unless the Act and regulations permit.
Sources
- The removal of additional retaliatory duties for import of US apples will not result in any negative impact on domestic apple producers (PIB, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, 26 June 2023) ↗ “The import of apples from USA has decreased from US$ 145 million (127,908 Ton) in FY 2018-19 to only US$ 5.27 million (4,486 Ton) in FY 2022-23.”
- Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Section 22 (FSSAI) ↗ “Save as otherwise provided under this Act and regulations made thereunder, no person shall manufacture, distribute, sell or import any novel food, genetically modified articles of food, irradiated food, organic foods”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·