. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/165
13 February 2002
(02-0708)
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:  Australian 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 products derived from corn line NK603 that has been genetically
modified for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate.  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 assessment (full assessment –
s.15);  application 416;  food derived fro m glyphosate-tolerant corn line NK603;
12 December 2001" (67 pages, English)
5. Description of content:  ANZFA has received an application to amend the Australia New
Zealand Food Standards Code  to approve the use of food products derived from corn line
NK603 that has been genetically modified for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate.  The
report describes the scientific assessment of this application.
Foods produced using gene technology are required to undergo a pre-market assessment of
their safety, to ensure that they are as safe as their conventional counterparts.
All applications to change the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code , must be
assessed in the context of the following objectives:  (a) the protection of public health and
safety;  (b) the provision of adequate information relating to food to enable consumers to
make informed choices;  and (c) the prevention of misleading or deceptive conduct.
If application A416 is approved the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code  will be
amended to permit foods derived corn line NK603 that has been genetically modified for
tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [  X ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
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:  New Zealand Food
Regulations 1984 , Australian Food Standards Code (both in English), Standard 1.5.2.G/SPS/N/NZL/165
Page 2
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Recommendation to Government anticipated to be made mid
2002, adoption to follow  pending Government approval.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  Not known, date of entry after Government approval
(see 9. above).
11. Final date for comments:  20 April 2002
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:  Mr. Keawe
Woodmore, Coordinator, SPS New Zealand, PO Box 2526, 101-103 The Terrace, Wellington,
New Zealand;  Tel: +64 4 474 4226;  Fax:  +64 4 470 2730;  E-mail:  sps@maf.govt.nz
Website:  http://www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/sps/transparency/notifications/index.htm
This document has also been notified by Australia.