FSANZ is proposing to amend the definitions for 'food produced using gene technology' and 'gene technology' in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
These definitions determine what foods are classed as genetically modified (GM) food under the Code. Currently, all GM food available for sale in Australia and New Zealand must have been assessed for safety by FSANZ and be expressly permitted and listed in relevant Code schedules.
FSANZ is proposing to update the definitions to make them clearer and better able to accommodate food produced by existing, emerging and future genetic technologies.
Public call for submissions - now open
In the first of two rounds of public consultation, FSANZ invites interested parties to comment on its proposed approach to:
- revise and expand the process-based definition for 'gene technology' to capture all methods for genetic modification other than conventional breeding; and
- revise the definition for 'food produced using gene technology' to include specific product-based criteria for excluding certain foods from pre-market safety assessment and approval as GM food. Foods that do not meet all relevant exclusion criteria would still require an application to FSANZ.
At this stage, FSANZ has not developed new definitions nor made any decisions on specific amendments to the Code. Work on proposed changes will be informed by feedback received through the first round of public consultation.
More information is available from FSANZ at Proposal P1055 – Definitions for gene technology and new breeding techniques (foodstandards.gov.au)
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