biotech labelling and import approval process regulations in june 2006 the united states referred to indias notifications to the tbt committee affecting trade in biotechnology products. the ministry of commerce and industrys supplement to the government of indias foreign trade policy condition 18 g tbt n ind 17 would require that its genetic engineering approval committee geac provide pre-approval of imports. the ministry of health and family welfares proposed mandatory labelling requirement for biotechnology products g tbt n ind 12 would also require pre-approval by the geac. the united states requested that these measures be notified to the sps committee to allow an opportunity for comments and that their implementation be delayed until a number of issues could be resolved. in particular the united states was concerned about the lack of clarity with regard to the scope and process of the proposed measures and their scientific justification what procedures would be in place for pre-approval of imports and once approved what procedures would be in place domestically and at the ports for enforcement and what was the scope and the justification to require that the process of production be included on the label. without clarification of these questions us exports to india would be negatively affected. argentina brazil and canada shared the concerns raised by united states and asked that members be given an opportunity to comment on the measures before their adoption. canada indicated that it would provide comments on the relevant tbt notifications and also invited india to notify its measures to the sps committee and take into account comments of other members. india took note of the concerns raised and stressed that the proposed regulation on pre-approvals was not new as it had already been notified in 1989. the purpose of the current proposal was to make the requirements mandatory. the objective of the mandatory labelling requirement was to provide correct information to consumers about the nature of the food. india was committed to following the transparency requirements and would consider notifying the relevant measures to the sps committee and would take into account comments received before the measures entered into force.