July 6, 2003

Update of investigation into suspected GM contaminated corn

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and New Zealand Food Safety Authority officials today
provided an update on their investigations into a case of possible GM contamination of sweet
corn harvested in the Gisborne region earlier this year. Officials from ERMA New Zealand have
also been closely involved with these investigations.

AgriQuality GMO Services laboratory in Melbourne has worked through the weekend to determine the
genetically modified organism and the concentration at which it was present in the corn
harvested.

“The laboratory results indicate the presence of Bt11, an insect-resistant variety of sweet corn
and the only commercially-available GM sweet corn variety. Eleven of the most common types of GM
constructs found in varieties of corn were tested for. All of these tests showed negative
results,” MAF Biosecurity group director Barry O’Neil said.

“Concentration of this GM organism is very low – less than 0.05 percent. This is less than five
seeds in a sample of 10,000 seeds.”

“Bt11 is one of the GM corn varieties that has been approved for consumption in New Zealand by
Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and the level of GM concentration is well below the
Australia/New Zealand standard for unintentional presence of 1 percent,” Food Safety Authority
director plant and dairy products Tim Knox said.

“Information received from the company involved suggests that the corn exported to Japan was a
trial shipment and no product has been released for consumption in Japan or in New Zealand.

“Given this information and the outcomes of the tests, it appears that no further action will be
required by the NZFSA,” Tim Knox said.

“MAF is investigating several possible pathways for contamination. These are the original seeds
imported from the United States; the possibility of cross-contamination from other crops grown
adjacent to the sweet corn fields at Gisborne; contamination during the harvesting and
processing stages; and possible contamination during laboratory testing,” Barry O’Neil said.

“Because the level of contamination is so low, the import pathway cannot be ruled out as a
source. Tests of the imported seed line – both by the importing company and by MAF – could have
missed this contamination.

“The audit of the harvesting and processing systems will provide more information on the
possibility of contamination and on the exact status of all material harvested.

“This audit will start on Monday once the specialists arrive. The weekend’s severe weather,
resulting in road closures and the cancellation of some flights to Gisborne disrupted their
travel plans,” Barry O’Neil said.

July 4, 2003

New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry officials today announced that they are investigating a case of possible GM contamination of sweet corn grown in the Gisborne region earlier this year.

The investigation also involves officials from the NZ Food Safety Authority, ERMA New Zealand and the Ministry for the Environment.

MAF Biosecurity group director Barry O’Neil said the investigations were prompted by a New Zealand company alerting MAF of test results conducted in Japan by a pizza manufacturing company that had conducted routine testing of a proprietary topping mix. This mix contained sweet corn sourced from New Zealand.

“Upon receiving this information MAF, with the full co-operation of the company, immediately moved to secure seed and product samples and arrange independent testing through AgriQuality’s GM testing facility in Melbourne,” Barry O’Neil said.

“Results received so far indicate no GM material in the seed that was planted but indicate the presence of GM material in the harvested crop. Follow-up tests are underway to confirm these results and to identify the exact nature of the GM material involved.

“MAF investigators are working closely with the New Zealand company to ascertain the extent of plantings of this corn variety; the nature of other crops, particularly corn varieties grown adjacent to these; and the quantities and final destination of the sweet corn that was harvested,” Barry O’Neil said.

“The New Zealand Food Safety Authority is awaiting test results that will confirm the variety and level of GM material contained in the corn. Based on information currently available, it seems likely the GM variety contained in this corn has been approved for human consumption in New Zealand. However if it is not an approved GM variety, further action will be taken,” NZFSA Director of Dairy and Plant Products Tim Knox said.

“MAF is taking this investigation very seriously and is working closely with ERMA New Zealand officials,” Barry O’Neil said.

“There is still much we do not know about this particular event. Our investigations currently underway should help answer many of the questions we currently have. We will provide regular updates as we receive the results of tests currently being conducted and determine the extent of any risks that may arise.

“We have briefed Ministers and officials from the relevant Government agencies. MAF values the high level of co-operation it is receiving from the sweet corn exporter involved,” he said.

Questions and Answers 

When did MAF first become aware of this issue?
On Thursday 26 June 2003 the Food Safety Assurance Manager of a company in the Gisborne region contacted MAF Biosecurity Authority.  The company had received notification from its Japanese importers its their processed packaged corn kernels had tested positive for the presence of Genetic Modification (GM) by a Japanese laboratory.The next day, Friday 27 June, MAF received the test results which were in Japanese.  The tests had also been conducted on a pizza topping mix containing a number of other ingredients. Immediately arrangements were made to re-test the topping mix in an independent Japanese laboratory and to get a translation of the initial test results.  The re-test results and the translation were received on Tuesday 1 July. MAF then moved to secure samples of the original seed lines together with samples of the product exported to Japan.  These were sent to AqriQuality in Melbourne. MAF received these results on Friday 4 July and then proceeded to brief Ministers, officials and the New Zealand public.

What has been done to verify the results?
So far MAF has secured seed and product samples from the New Zealand company and arranged independent testing through AgriQuality’s GM testing facility in Melbourne.  This is a highly sophisticated testing laboratory.  The original samples tested are being re-tested to confirm the initial results.  When we have further results on the nature of the samples we will then have a better basis for decision making.

How do we test imports of seed?
The New Zealand testing regime is one of the strictest in the world.
MAF tests imported seed for growing in the environment at the border and if there is any indication of unauthorised GM content it is not allowed in.  MAF tests every batch of corn (as well as maize seed) from all countries that grow GM crops as it comes into the country and requires phytosanitary certificates from all other countries stating that the seeds are GM free.  A consignment that has been tested offshore in a MAF-accredited laboratory, according to the method in our import protocol, will not be tested again unless there are genuine grounds that GM seeds are present.  This means that seed from non-GM as well as GM producing countries is certified GM free before it is allowed into the country. 
Last year the sample sizes for testing for inadvertent GM content were increased from 1400 to 3200 seeds.  This means that the current testing process will detect the presence of GM so that MAF will be 95 per cent confident that any consignment with a level of GM contamination of 0.1 percent (one seed in a thousand) will be detected.

So why wasn’t it picked up in the import testing process?
Unless every single seed is tested (thereby destroying it), we cannot guarantee 100 percent GM-free seed. 
This suggests that the laws can’t prevent GM coming into the country inadvertently. 
Testing at the border is rigorous and when inadvertent GM content is found, we act immediately to control the situation.

How come the tests results vary in terms of positive and negative?
The tests used to check for the presence of GMOs are highly sensitive and capable of detecting contamination from a number of different sources.

How else could these seeds have been contaminated?
There are several possibilities, such as contamination in harvesting and processing equipment; contamination in the laboratory and cross-pollination from neighbouring crops.

How could cross-pollination have occurred?
Wind-borne pollen from adjoining Zea mays crops may have contained GMOs.  MAF investigation are underway to determine the scale, location and proximity of these plantings to other Zea mays crops.

Is there any connection to the earlier GM maize issue at Pacific Seeds in Gisborne?
MAF Biosecurity is obtaining information on the location, quantity and types of field plantings associated with this investigation.

When will an audit of the company start?
A quality assurance audit of the company will be carried out over the weekend, and the company is very happy to host the audit team.  The NZFSA and a member of Plants Biosecurity will conduct the audit and preparation of a question checklist has started. In the initial stages of an investigation such as this, priority is given to securing the product and testing it to see whether or not it is contaminated.
The audit needs to be undertaken carefully so that all the required information is collected, recorded and fully documented.

Will MAF trace the corn seed from the original consignment?
Yes.  MAF's investigations will include the seed company responsible for the original importation. All sites where this corn has been grown will be investigated.

How many other countries are affected by the exports of this sweetcorn?
MAF investigators are conducting a full audit of the company involved, If shipments have been made to other countries, these Governments will be advised by MFAT.
MFAT is in liaison with its Japanese counterparts.

For further information about The New Zealand Food Safety Authority visit
www.nzfsa.govt.nz/consumers/food-safety/gm/index.htm
For further information about MAF protocols visit
http://www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/imports/plants/papers/gm-seeds/zea-mays-protocol.htm

Timeline – Summary actions to date on the suspect GM sweetcorn

Thursday 26 June 2003

§         The Food Safety Assurance Manager of a company in the Gisborne region contacted MAF after receiving notification from their Japanese importers that their processed packaged corn kernels tested positive for the presence of genetic modification by a Japanese laboratory.

Friday 27 June 2003

§         Mechanisms for securing the seed under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO) and Biosecurity Acts were investigated and arrangements were made for a compliance order under HSNO to be issued to control seed over the weekend..

Monday 30 June 2003

§         MAF was contacted by the Food Safety Assurance Manager of the company, who was extremely co-operative. Processing details were provided, location and source of the remaining seed lot was confirmed. The company also provided a GM freedom declaration and American testing results which showed no GM detected at a 0.01 percent operational limit of detection (10,000 kernel sample, MAF standard is 3,200).

§         A copy of the report from the Japanese testing agency was also faxed and a translation began.

§         MAF arranged for the seizure of remaining seed under Section 28A of the Biosecurity Act using a MAF Quarantine Service Inspector.

Tuesday 1 July

§         Arrangements for the packaging, transport, pick-up and testing of suspect GM corn samples were made. Two samples of seed (2 x 3200 seeds) and two bags of processed corn were couriered to Auckland for dispatch to Genescan (AgriQuality) in Melbourne, Australia the next day. Note that the sample numbers exceed those considered sufficient to detect GM material based on MAF guidelines. (http://www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/imports/plants/papers/gm-seeds/zea-mays-protocol.htm#P176_22480).

§         A translated copy of the report from the Japanese testing agency was obtained.  The document states that GMO corn genes were detected by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and that the corn was confirmed as grown in New Zealand.

§         MAF contacted the Food Safety Assurance Manager of the Company and discussed the laboratory report with them.  Information contained in the report together with feedback obtained from Japan by the Company suggested that Japanese testing was on a mixed product with a range of unknown ingredients.