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Australian New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) completes assessment for first two genetically modified foods in Australia and New Zealand

Canberra, Australia
February 17, 1999

The Australian New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) has completed the safety assessment for the first two applications it has received to approve genetically modified foods.

ANZFA has found, following rigorous examination of test data, that Roundup Ready Soybeans and Ingard Cottonseed have no public health and safety concerns. These products were also found to be substantially equivalent to food from their conventional counterparts in respect of its composition, safety, wholesomeness and end use.

The assessments will now go through a brief period for comment by industry, professionals and
consumers before being sent for consideration in April 1999 by the New Zealand and State and Territory Health Ministers sitting as Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council (ANZFSC).

These were the first of six applications seeking approval of genetically modified foods following the
agreement to a food standard to ensure the safety of genetically modified food by ANZFSC in July last year. The new standard, which will come into force on 13 May 1999, requires all genetically modified foods to go through this rigorous pre-market safety testing. ANZFSC required a nine month lead up period for the standard to allow time for this safety evaluation.

The four other applications currently being assessed are for Roundup Ready canola, cotton and corn and BT corn. These applications are expected to be completed within the next few months.

The Genetically Modified Food Standard that comes into force on 13 May also requires genetically modified food that is not the same as its conventional counterpart to be labelled.

Last December ANZFSC asked for an additional draft standard from ANZFA which will require the
labelling of all genetically modified food. They also asked that the Standard define genetically modified food. This draft will go to ANZFSC in the next few months. Under the current standard which comes into force on 13 May 1999 these two products will not require labelling although they will under the requested additional standard.

Ingard cotton is currently grown in Australia. The principal food products extracted from the cotton are refined cottonseed oil and fibre. Cottonseed oil is a premium quality oil that may be used in a variety of foods including frying oil, mayonnaise, and salad dressings.

Roundup Ready soybeans are not currently grown in Australia but are imported from the United States. They are mainly processed into vegetable oil, which is supplied to the food industry for a variety of uses, and protein meal which is mainly supplied to animal feed manufacturers. Potentially, a small amount of the protein meal (less than 3%) may also be used in products destined for human consumption.

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