   
  
G/SPS/GEN/1940  
 
21 July 2021 
(21-5735) Page: 1/1 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
INDIA'S REQUIREMENT FOR CERTIFICATE FOR NON -GM ORIGIN  
AND GM-FREE STATUS – SPECIFIC TRADE CONCERN 501  
SUBMISSION BY THE UNITED STATES  OF AMERICA  
The following submission, received on 20 July 2021, is the statement made by the United States of 
America at the 14 -16 July 2021 WTO SPS Committee, and is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the United States  of America . 
 
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1.  The United States again raises its concerns with India's measure mandating "non -GM (genetically 
modified) origin and GM free certificates" for certain agricultural imports into India, notified on 
2 September 2020 , as G/TBT/N/IND/168 . 
2.  The United States raised this issue at the November 2020 and March 2021 SPS Committee 
meetings and our concerns are documented in G/SPS/GEN/1865  and G/SPS/GEN/1901 , and in 
the Committee 's summary reports of the previous meetings.  
3.  Per previous interventions on this issue, we again request that India provide the scientific 
justification and the risk assessment for the measure, or otherwise indicate the relevant international 
standards or guidelines on which this measure is based. In the absence of this information, 
the United States again urges India to withdraw its measure.  
4.  The measure has disrupted US apple exports.  Trade stoppages risk future product shortages and 
could lead to price increases for Indian consumers and further disruptions to Indian supply chains.  
5.  We request that India consider alternative approaches that ca n be implemented in a 
non-discriminatory manner, and in a way that is not more trade -restrictive than necessary.  
6.  In January 2021, the U nited States proposed technical cooperation with India to develop 
alternatives to the non -GM origin and GM -free certificate. We look forward to the Food Safety and 
Standards Authority of India 's (FSSAI) response to this proposed technical cooperation opportunity 
as a means by which we can develop a mutually agreeable approach to this issue.  
 
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