. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/67
14 September 2000
(00-3601)
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 and potato leaf roll virus-protected potato lines
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 A383 - Food derived from insect and potato leaf roll virus-protected potato
lines RBMT21-129, RBMT21-350, and RBMT22-82 (75 pages)
5. Description of content: The draft report describes the scientific assessments undertaken and
recommends addition to the list of approved foods in Standard A18.  The report results from
an application by Monsanto Australia Ltd for the approval of food derived from three insect
and potato leaf roll virus-protected potato lines produced using gene technology to be listedin Standard A18 – Food Produced Using Gene Technology of the Food Standards Code .
The three lines of Russet Burbank potatoes have been genetically modified to provide
protection against a range of insects, including  the Colorado potato beetle (CPB), as well as
against potato leafroll virus (PLRV).  The genetically modified potatoes are known
commercially as New Leaf® Plus potatoes.  The New Leaf® Plus potatoes are protected
against CPB and PLRV through the transfer of two genes — the cry3Aa  gene from the soil
bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis  subspecies tenebrionis (B.t.t. ) and the PLRVrep  gene from
PLRV.
New Leaf® Plus potatoes are not grown in Australia or New Zealand and are currently not
permitted to be imported into Australia and New Zealand as fresh produce.  Rather, theprinciple food products derived from these potato varieties are likely to be imported
processed food commodities such as processed potato crisps, pre-cooked French fries,
potato flour and potato starch.
New Zealand previously made a notification under the SPS Agreement on 19 February 1997
(G/SPS/N/NZL/9), informing other Members of a proposal to establish a standard requiring
a pre-market safety assessment of foods derived from gene technology on a case-by-casebasis.  New Zealand notified (G/SPS/N/NZL/52) on 26 November 1999 the availability for
public comment the draft amended standard, which regulates the sale of foods and food
ingredients, other than additives and processing aids, which are produced using gene
technology. Standard A18 – Food produced using gene technology, has been adopted in
New Zealand as a mandatory standard under section 112 of the New Zealand Food Act
1981 as amended.G/SPS/N/NZL/67
Page 2
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   
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  (both in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption: Recommendation to Government anticipated late 2000;
adoption to follow, pending Government approval.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  Not known, expected in early to mid 2002 (pending
adoption in late 2000).
11. Final date for comments:  30 October 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 A383.
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.