. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/AUS/200 
14 August 2006 
 (06-3888) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  AUSTRALIA
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Processed foods and raw ingredients  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All 
countries.  Imported (a s well as domestically produced) foods sold in Australia.  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Draft Assessment for 
Application A575 – F ood derived from glyphosate-tolerant lucerne J101 and J163 
(Available in English, 64 pages).  
6. Description of content:  FSANZ has received an Application to amend Standard 1.5.2 – 
Food Produced using Gene Technology in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code 
to approve the use of food products derived from genetically modified glyphosate-tolerant lucerne J101 and J163.   
Glyphosate-tolerant lucerne J101 and J163 has been developed for animal feed, and for 
cultivation in North America.  However some  may inadvertently enter the food supply. 
Minor food uses of lucerne (alfalfa) include spr outs and tea.  Food derived from this lucerne 
could enter the market in Australia via imported products.  
7. 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   
Foods produced using gene technology are requi red 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 fo llowing objectives:  (a) the protection of public health and 
safety; (b) the provision of adequate informati on relating to food to enable consumers to 
make informed choices; and (c) the prev ention of misleading or deceptive conduct.  G/SPS/N/AUS/200 
Page 2  
 
  8. International standard, guideline or recommendation: 
[ X ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [   ] None 
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:   
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Australia New 
Zealand Food Standards Code  (English)  
10. Proposed date of adoption:  Notification to Government anticipated in December 2006 
with adoption (gazettal) to follow,  pending Government consideration.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  Date of Gazettal pending Government consideration 
(see 10. above).  
12. Final date for comments:  29 September 2006 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [ X ] National notification 
authority, [   ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Food Standards Aust ralia New Zealand 
PO Box 7186 
Canberra BC  ACT  2610 Australia Fax:  + 61 2 6271 2278 E-mail:  slo@foodstandards.gov.au  
13. Texts available from:  [ X ] National notifi cation authority, [   ] National enquiry 
point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  : 
Documents are available fro m the Food Standards Austra lia New Zealand website: 
www.foodstandards.gov.au/standardsdevelopment .   
Copies are also available from: 
 
The Australian SPS Notification Point 
GPO Box 858 
CANBERRA  ACT  2601 AUSTRALIA 
Fax:  +61 2 6272 3678    E-mail: sps.contact@daff.gov.au