Though most countries have only ordered the labelling of food items to ensure they are GE (genetically engineered) free, Sri Lanka has gone one step further by banning all types of GE foods. The regulations become effective on May 1.

"This is a wonderful decision and we are completely backing the government on this," said Hemantha
Vithanage, an environmental scientist and executive director of the Environmental Foundation Ltd
(EFL). "This is a decision beyond all expectations."

Share market observers also said the move would benefit local soya producers and help share boost
prices in some sectors of the food and beverages sector.

The Health Ministry has said it was banning the imports of all GE foods, in a move that had been long
awaited but nevertheless surprised the environmental lobby and has caused some confusion amongst
importers.

The ministry gazetted a list of 21 items, which are banned unless proved that they are not GE foods.
The list includes a range of soya foods including soya milk, soya bean, soy sauce, soya nuggets or
textured vegetable proteins known as TVP – which has fast become a substitute for beef among
health conscious consumers -, other soya-based products, tomato sauce, tomato paste and
tomato-based products.

It said such foods would be allowed into the country only after a GE-free certificate is provided.
Importers of the list of restricted items have been asked to clear the food by a competent authority in
the producing country.

"There is going to be a lot of confusion over the ban," said S. Balachandran, a council member of the
National Chamber of Commerce. "We repeatedly told the government not to rush into this legislation
but it has been done."

He said there was no clear evidence to show that GE foods were injurious to health. "We asked the
government to show us proof but there was no response. We also suggested that the government first
implement the process of labelling of food items to allow consumers to make a choice but that was
also not done."

Chamber officials and environmentalists said Sri Lanka is the first country in Asia to ban GE foods
and probably among the few in the world that had resorted to this move instead of the labelling
process which is prevalent in many countries.

The debate over GE foods has been going on for close to two years in Sri Lanka and follows a
worldwide controversy over GE food. In fact there were moves, exactly a year ago, to enforce a ban
on GE foods here. "Yes, in fact we placed an advertisement in the newspapers informing the trade of
a possible ban on genetically engineered food imports," said S. Nagiah, chief food inspector of the
Health Ministry.

Mr. Nagiah, one of the key officials responsible for the legislation, agreed that there would be teething
problems in the implementation of the ban but noted that the trade had almost a year to get ready for
a ban. "So they should not be complaining about it."

"When a worldwide controversy erupted last year over the safety of GE foods, we thought it was in
the best interests of our consumers that we impose a ban till the controversy is sorted out and the
picture is clearer," he said.

Sri Lanka decided to enforce a ban instead of implementing GE-free labelling of food because it is a
major food importer unlike other Asian or European countries. "For instance India or Britain doesn't
import as much food as we do. We need to take more precautions that the West and we have a
responsibility to the consumer," the health ministry's food chief noted.

He said the decision to enforce a ban was taken after several months of discussion, debate and
deliberation. "There may be little or no evidence to show the impact of GE foods on human but
genetic engineering is a dangerous thing. If we allow a GE seed to invade our local species it could be
disastrous."

The bulk of Sri Lanka's food requirements is imported with wheat and sugar coming from the United
States and other European countries, where the GE controversy has erupted and led to calls for bans.
Much of the country's soya products come from India.

Studies have shown that 65 percent of the soya produced in the United States and 35 percent of the
corn produced in the same country is through genetic technology.

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