This application seeks approval for food derived from canola line LBFLFK, genetically modified for herbicide tolerance and to produce omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the seed.
Approval report (pdf 272 kb)(word 150 kb)
Call for submissions
Call for Submissions - 27 May 2022(pdf 1.07 mb)(word 141 kb)
Supporting document 1 - Safety assessment(pdf 2.14 mb)(word 1.08 mb)
Supporting document 2 - Nutrition Risk Assessment(pdf 883 kb)(word 181 kb)
Submissions
Department Human Health and Services VIC (pdf 176 kb)
New Zealand Food and Grocery Council (pdf 237 kb)
Ministry for Primary Industries (pdf 138 kb)
Administrative Assessment - 8 November 2021(pdf 112 kb) (word 65.8 kb)
Executive Summary (pdf 99.8 kb)
Application (pdf 444 kb)
Further information on canola line LBFLFK
What is canola line LBFLFK?
Canola line LBFLFK has been genetically modified to:
- produce omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) in the seed, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), and
- have tolerance to imidazolinone herbicides.
Non-GM canola does not contain measurable levels of omega-3 LC-PUFAs.
Current approval status of food from canola line LBFLFK
This canola is not currently approved as a food in Australia and New Zealand.
FSANZ is assessing an application from BASF Australia Ltd (Application A1239) to permit the sale and use of food from this canola in both countries.
Food products that may be available
If this application is approved by FSANZ and food from this canola is permitted to be sold in Australia and New Zealand, it would primarily be imported in a processed form e.g. refined oil. The oil could be used as an ingredient in various food products to provide an alternate source of dietary LC-PUFAs.
This canola is approved for use as a food in Canada and the United States and approval is pending in a number of other countries, including Japan and Europe.
Out of scope products - Infant formula products
BASF Australia Ltd is not seeking approval to use this canola in infant formula products.
A separate application would need to be submitted and approved for this canola to be used in these types of products.
Labelling requirements for GM foods
If approved, existing labelling requirements for GM foods would apply to food from this canola. Under these requirements, a food or a food ingredient derived from canola line LBFLFK would, in most cases, need to be labelled as 'genetically modified' if it contains novel DNA or novel protein or has a nutritional profile that differs from food derived from non-GM canola.
See our GM food labelling page for more information.
Requirements to import GM food
All foods imported into Australia and New Zealand must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and strict biosecurity requirements.
More information on import requirements in Australia is available here.
Information regarding import of GM foods into New Zealand can be found in the Ministry for Primary Industries fact sheet.
Cultivation of canola line LBFLFK
The applicant is not seeking approval to cultivate canola line LBFLFK in Australia or New Zealand. Permission to cultivate the canola line or to import viable seeds would require separate regulatory assessment and approval. In Australia, this is the responsibility of the Gene Technology Regulator and in New Zealand, the Environmental Protection Authority.
Until such approval is sought and granted, canola line LBFLFK will be grown overseas. Cultivation is approved in Canada and the United States.
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