Date: 3/08/2023
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to allow the sale and use of food made from a new genetically modified (GM) corn.
FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said corn line DP51291 was genetically modified for herbicide tolerance and protection from insect pests.
“If approved, food made from this type of GM corn could be imported into Australia and New Zealand in the form of starch, grits, meal, flour, oil and sweetener," Dr Cuthbert said.
The application is the second to be evaluated under a safety assessment sharing arrangement between FSANZ and Health Canada.
“The collaboration involves the joint preparation and sharing of a single food safety assessment which is then used by each agency in making their own separate and independent assessment and decision on whether to approve the corn,” Dr Cuthbert said.
“Our safety assessment found no potential public health and safety concerns. The GM corn is as safe as non-GM corn varieties."
To help people make informed choices, food made from this corn would need to be labelled as 'genetically modified' if there was any novel DNA and/or novel proteins in the final food.
The approval would not permit the GM corn to be grown in Australia or New Zealand.
Cultivation and whole food containing viable seeds (e.g. corn cobs) would require separate regulatory assessment and approval by the Gene Technology Regulator in Australia, and the Environmental Protection Authority in New Zealand.
To have your say, see our call for comment page. Submissions close at 6pm (Canberra time)14 September 2023.
What happens to my feedback?
We will publish all submissions to our website as soon as possible at the end of the public comment period.
All feedback will be considered by FSANZ before making a decision on whether to approve the application.
Our decision will be notified to ministers responsible for food regulation who can ask for a review or agree to include the amendment in the Food Standards Code.
More information:
- How to make a submission
- Read the assessment documents: A1270: - Food derived from herbicide-tolerant and insect-protected corn line DP51291
- More about GM food
- Canada and FSANZ working together on GM food safety
Media contact:
0401 714 265 (Australia) +61 401 714 265 (from New Zealand)