FSANZ calls for comment on GM corn

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has called for comment on an application to allow the sale and use of food made from a genetically modified (GM) corn.

Dr Sandra Cuthbert, FSANZ CEO, said corn line DP51291 was genetically modified for herbicide tolerance and protection from insect pests.

Food made from this corn could be imported in the form of starch, grits, meal, flour, oil and sweetener if approved.

This is the second application to be evaluated under a safety assessment sharing arrangement between FSANZ and Health Canada.

Cuthbert said the collaboration involves the joint preparation and sharing of a food safety assessment which is used by each agency in making separate assessments and decisions on whether to approve the corn.

FSANZ’s assessment found no potential public health and safety concerns.

Any 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.

Approval would not permit the GM corn to be grown in Australia or New Zealand. To do so, separate regulatory assessment and approval by the Gene Technology Regulator in Australia and the Environmental Protection Authority in New Zealand would be required.

Submissions close at 6 pm (Canberra time) on 14 September 2023.

Image credit: iStock.com/feellife