Won't open up dairy sector or let in genetically modified products: Piyush Goyal

NEW DELHI: With India, US close to finalising a trade, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal Tuesday said India has never opened up its dairy sector in any free trade agreement and will not allow imports of genetically modified products, describing both as "very sensitive" issues for the country.Addressing students of Kirori Mal College, Goyal said India has "never ever" compromised on any sensitive item and has always protected its farmers, fishermen, and MSMEs in trade pacts."We are sensitive to opening up to certain agricultural produce, certain goods that we are very strong on like marine products. We are very sensitive to opening our dairy. In fact, till date, we have never opened up dairy for anybody. We are very sensitive not to allow any genetically modified products to come to India and we have never allowed it and we'll never allow it in the future," he said.He said, "We are sensitive to our religious sensitivities. So very often in foreign countries, they use calf meat or Rennet while producing their dairy products. We don't allow that in India. It is strictly got to be certified... so that religious sensitivities of the large parts of India are not hurt."Rennet is an enzyme used in cheese-making, traditionally obtained from the stomach lining of young calves. PTIYou use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.