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?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Correct Answer: (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Explanation

Option (a): Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
- Incorrect: Statement-I is incorrect because India does import apples from the United States. The import of US apples surged 40 times in three months after India removed the retaliatory import duty in September 2023 . Statement-II is correct, but it does not explain Statement-I.
Option (b): Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
- Incorrect: Statement-I is incorrect as India does import apples from the United States. Statement-II is correct, but since Statement-I is incorrect, this option is invalid.
Option (c): Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
- Incorrect: Statement-I is incorrect because India imports apples from the United States. Statement-II is correct as Indian law prohibits the import of genetically modified food without the approval of the competent authority .
Option (d): Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
- Correct: Statement-I is incorrect because India imports apples from the United States. Statement-II is correct as Indian law prohibits the import of genetically modified food without the approval of the competent authority .

Learn More

India’s Import of US Apples:
- India imports apples from the United States. The import of US apples surged 40 times in three months after India removed the retaliatory import duty in September 2023 .
- The import of US apples had dropped significantly due to a 20% retaliatory tariff imposed in 2019, but the removal of this tariff has led to a significant increase in imports .
Regulation of Genetically Modified (GM) Foods in India:
- Indian law prohibits the import of genetically modified food without the approval of the competent authority, which includes the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
- The Environment Protection Act of 1986 and the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 govern the approval process for GM foods .
- Despite the prohibition, there have been instances of GM food products being imported into India without proper approvals, highlighting regulatory challenges .
Impact of Retaliatory Tariffs:
- The 20% retaliatory tariff imposed by India in 2019 on US apples was in response to the US increasing tariffs on Indian steel and aluminum products .
- This tariff significantly reduced the import of US apples, but its removal has led to a resurgence in imports .
Market Dynamics:
- The removal of the additional duty on US apples has allowed them to compete on a level playing field with apples from other countries like Turkey, Italy, Chile, and New Zealand.
- The import of apples from other countries increased significantly during the period when the additional duty on US apples was in place.