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
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to permit the sale and use of food made from a new genetically modified (GM) corn.
Dr Sandra Cuthbert, FSANZ CEO said corn line DAS1131 was genetically modified to provide it with 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.
She said safety assessments are a key part of the approval process for all GM foods.
“Our safety assessment considered the specific genetic modification process, the nutrient content compared to a non-GM food of its type, and any potential allergic or toxic effects in humans,” Dr Cuthbert said.
“FSANZ found no potential public health and safety concerns with this GM corn. It 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 novel DNA and/or novel proteins were contained in the final food.
FSANZ’s approval would not permit GM corn to be grown in Australia or New Zealand. Importation of whole food containing viable seeds (e.g. corn cobs) or any cultivation of this GM corn would require separate regulatory assessment and approval by the Gene Technology Regulator in Australia and the Environmental Protection Authority in New Zealand.
