ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: A high-level government committee formed by Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif has rejected the import of genetically modified (GMO) soybean meal, despite the availability of high-quality meal free from Aflatoxin at lower prices from the USA compared to domestically produced options. This decision comes amid controversy surrounding the suspension of the Director General of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) for reportedly recommending approval of 47 GMO soybean events for import of GMO soybean meal from the USA.
Chaired by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC), Mr. Musaddiq Malik, the committee concluded that domestic production of soybean meal, extracted from imported GMO soybean seeds, is sufficient to meet the poultry sector’s needs. Consequently, it decided to defer any decision on further imports for six months.
The committee was originally formed following concerns raised by the All-Pakistan Solvent Extractors’ Association (APSEA) on fast-track approval of Technical Advisory Committee, National Biosafety Committee, MoCC&EC and Pak-EPA without appropriate local risk assessments and appropriate biosafety measures for registration of US 47 GMO soybean events and issuances of licenses and permit to importers from poultry industries. APSEA also warned MoCC&EC apropos potential harmful impacts of these approvals on local agriculture industry and environment in addition to local solvent extraction units and calls for a suspension of all GMO meal import approvals.
The Prime Minister tasked the committee, comprising ministers of Commerce, National Food Security, Power, and Industries, with reviewing APSEA’s concerns and submitting recommendations based on global best practices.
The denial of MoCC&EC for registration of US GMO soybean events in favour of M/s Zubair Feeds (Pvt.) Ltd. is unlawful and discriminatory because the poultry feed importer has fulfilled all codal formalities as prescribed by revised SOPs adopted by the 27th meeting of National Biosafety Committee (NBC) held on 22nd April 2024 that led to registration and import of GMO soybean seed for the first time in the history of Pakistan for food and feed by APSEA, sources inside Pak-EPA disclosed.
According to Minutes of 40th TAC Meeting, Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore (CEMB— Lahore), a Pak-EPA approved Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) has conducted evaluation of M/s Zubair Feeds (Pvt.) Ltd. application and recommended to Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for registration of 47 GMO soybean events with Pak-EPA in its favour. The CEMB studies involve evaluation of US studies on GMO Soybean i.e., determination of gene transformation techniques and identification of other countries approved them.
Subsequently, Ms. Farzana Altaf Shah, Director General, Pak-EPA held 40th meeting of the TAC in her office on 25th March 2025 and TAC also recommended registration and issuance of license and permits for import of GMO soybean meal from USA to National Biosafety Committee (NBC) like it permitted to APSEA members.
The Minister’s for Climate Change open stance that as domestic production of GMO soybean meal is sufficient to meet domestic requirement of poultry industry, so they cannot grant permission for import of GMO soybean meal in Pakistan from USA, is tantamount to blatant violation of Pakistan Biosafety Rules, WTO and discriminatory being favouring one industry at the cost of other. WTO discourages such kinds of protections measures to domestic industries. US can reciprocate same restrictions on imports from Pakistan and demand to lift such unjustified trade restriction. US has already demanded from Pakistan to lift ban on import of wheat in Pakistan, a WTO expert inside MoC said.
Pakistan Plant Quarantine Regulations and Import Policy Order do not ban import of GMO soybean meal in Pakistan from USA if importable GMO Soybean Events are registered with Pak-EPA and it has issued licenses and permits for import of GMO Soybean Meal in Pakistan, Rao Muhammad Ishfaq, Director Quarantine, National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority and Collector Customs spoke.
Earlier this year, the caretaker federal government, despite lacking legislation power, amended the Biosafety Rules, allowing GMO food and feed imports to be approved based on risk assessments and biosafety measures in the country of origin. Critics argue that this move, influenced by Mr. Ahad Khan Cheema, eliminated local assessment studies and essential biosafety safety protocols and raised concerns about the unmeasurable adverse impacts on public health and biodiversity.
Consequently, TAC, NBC, MoCC&EC, Pak-EPA, MoNFS&R, MoC etc., reportedly permitted registration of US 47 GMO soybean events with Pak-EPA without local risk assessment studies and appropriate biosafety measures under revised biosafety regulations and SOPs dated 22nd April 2024 that led to opening of doors for US soybean seeds for food and feed formally for the first time in the history of Pakistan.
APSEA members obtained recommendations of Dr. Mazhar Iqbal, a professor at Quaid-i-Azam University and member of IBC under QAU to TAC in their favour in exchange of money. The recommendation reports lacked necessary approvals of other members of QAU IBC as well as Vice Chancellor, Quaid-e-Azam (QAU). The recommendation in an unreasonably short timeframe after submission of APSEA application supports doubts that studies were bogus and without undergoing proper assessment and biosafety measures, officials inside MoNFS&R revealed.
It is reportedly said that the deal between Dr. Iqbal and APSEA was brokered by former Chairman, PARC and recently suspended vice president, Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC), Dr. Yousaf Zafar who has been working as consultant of APSEA. Mr. Zafar has been also involved in illegal sale and spread of unregistered GMO IR varieties developed by Dr. Mehboob in Pakistan without Pak-EPA approval as Director, NIBGE.
The situation raises questions about Cheema’s influence, especially considering that companies like Sharif Solvent, Sharif Feed Mills, and others stand to gain from these regulatory changes, profiting 150 USD per ton significantly from the import of GMO soybean disrupting import of non-GMO soybean, more safe to public health, biodiversity and environment.
When the poultry industry sought permission from MoCC&EC and MoNFS&R for registration and import soybean meal, they were denied because it was not in favour of above influential units, member of poultry industry said. They emphasized that importable US GMO soybean meal is not only cheaper, nutritionally superior despite regulatory duty but also much safer than domestically produced GMO soybean meal being free from contaminants like Aflatoxin. The regulatory duty is also arranged by APSEA on import of soybean meal influencing Chairman FBR through a Lahore based member who is his personal friend, a member from poultry association revealed.
Meanwhile, representatives from the poultry and feed mill sectors termed ongoing import restrictions unfair and protect a small cartel of local oil extraction processors. However, a soybean seed importer countered that meal prices have dropped since the resumption of GMO soybean seed imports, attributing earlier price hikes to a temporary ban on seed imports rather than a lack of GMO meal.
Surprisingly, APSEA members have imported more than five GMO soybean vessels from USA and Brazil without any biosafety measures. No sampling and testing for verification of registered GMO soybean events were allowed to Pak-EPA and DPP by Mr. Cheema. The transportation of GMO soybean in open trucks were allowed in sheer violation of biosafety condition on licenses and permits that provides transportation in closed containers.
MoNFSR & NAFSA were also given task by Mr. Cheema to remove all kinds of disinfestation and devitalization treatment particularly Methyl bromide and replace it with ineffective and most resistant treatment i.e., fumigation with Aluminum phosphide even by reducing their fumigation period (exposure period, ventilation period and withholding period from one month to on to two days, if they want to hold their position. The inspectors have been threatened in DPP and Pak-EPA to send either in surplus pool or terminate their services if they create hinderance or apply necessary biosecurity and biosafety measures in clearance of GMO soybean consignments.
Ironically, the federal government has closed its eyes on such blatant violations and subsequent immeasurable losses, threats and impacts GMO food is posing to the public health, environment and biodiversity by unchecked and unregulated import of GMO soybean just to give benefit to favourite businessmen.
