. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/72
6 October 2000
(00-4098)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  NEW ZEALAND
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA)
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Food derived from insect-protected, herbicide-tolerant Bt-11 corn   Regions or
countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All countries
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Draft risk analysis report:
application A386 – food derived from insect-protected, herbicide-tolerant Bt-11 corn
(74 pages)
5. Description of content:  The draft report describes the scientific assessments undertaken and
recommends an addition to the list of approv ed foods in Standard A18.  The report results
from an application for the approval of f ood derived from insect-protected Bt-11 corn
produced using gene technology to be listed in Standard A18 – Food Produced Using Gene
Technology of the Food Standards Code.
Bt-11 corn is not currently grown in either New Zealand or Australia.  However, domestic
production of corn in both countries is supplemented by a small amount of imported corn-
based products, largely as high-fructose corn syrup, which is not currently manufactured in
either New Zealand or Australia. Corn-based products are processed into breakfast cereals,
baking products, extruded confectionery and corn chips.  Other corn products, including
maize starch, are also imported. This is used by the food industry for the manufacture ofdessert mixes and canned foods.  In addition, sweet corn varieties are also grown for human
consumption.
Standard A18 has been adopted in New Zealand as a mandatory standard under section 112
of the New Zealand Food Act 1981 as amended. It regulates the sale of foods and food
ingredients, other than additives and processing aids, which are produced using gene
technology.  Clause 3 of Standard A18 prescribes mandatory labelling of a food produced
using gene technology when it contains new or altered genetic material and where it is not
substantially equivalent in any characteristic or property of the food.  Bt-11 corn has been
found to be equivalent to other commercial varieties of corn and there is no requirement for
mandatory labelling under the current standard.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [   ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests   G/SPS/N/NZL/72
Page 2
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Australian Food
Standards Code ; New Zealand Food Regulations 1984  (Available in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption:  In late 2000 pending Government approval anticipated
late 2000.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  Not known, expected in early to mid 2002 (pending
adoption in late 2000, see item 9. above)
11. Final date for comments:  15 November 2000
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:  Australia New Zealand Food Authority, PO Box 7186, Canberra
Mail Centre ACT 2610, Australia;  Fax:  +61 2 6271 2278;  E-mail:  info@anzfa.gov.au
12. Texts available from: [  X ] National notification authority, [    ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: Australia New
Zealand Food Authority quoting Application A386.
Australia New Zealand Food Authority, PO Box 7186, Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610,
Australia;  Fax:  +61 2 6271 2278;  E-mail:  info@anzfa.gov.au
This document has also been notified by Australia.
This document has also been notified under the TBT Agreement.