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Response to Heinemann et al on the regulation of GM crops and foods developed using gene silencing

Response to Heinemann et al on the regulation of GM crops and foods developed using gene silencing (May 2013) Key points

  • A recent scientific article (Heinemann et al, 2013) claims that small double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) generated in GM plants as a result of using gene silencing techniques can create biosafety risks that are not being adequately assessed by regulators such as Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). They suggest changes to the safety assessment process to address their concerns.
  • FSANZ has carefully examined the arguments put forward in the article, and has thoroughly researched the scientific literature on gene silencing. The weight of scientific evidence published to date does…

    Published 16 January 2014

Food derived using new breeding techniques - review

Food derived using new breeding techniques - review We have been reviewing how the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) applies to food derived using new breeding techniques (NBTs). NBTs are new approaches in plant and animal breeding that were not in use when Standard 1.5.2 - Food produced using gene technology - was first developed nearly 20 years ago. Since early 2018 we have been consulting with the key stakeholders and the community to look at how food derived from NBTs should be captured for pre-market approval under Standard 1.5.2 and whether the definitions for 'food produced using gene technology' and 'gene technology' in Standard 1.1.2 - 2 should be changed to improve clarity about which foods require pre-market approval. In February…

Published 7 October 2021

Role of animal feeding studies

Role of animal feeding studies While FSANZ doesn't require animal feeding studies, we do acknowledge that there may be future GM foods where these studies may be useful. A scientifically-informed comparative assessment of GM foods with their conventional counterparts can generally identify any potential adverse health effects or differences requiring further evaluation. For most GM foods, animal studies are unlikely to contribute any further useful information. In June 2007, FSANZ convened an expert panel to consider whether animal feeding studies are necessary to determine the safety of GM foods. The expert panel concluded that we should continue our case-by-case assessment of GM foods based on the best available science.…

Published 1 June 2016

Response to Seralini paper

Response to Seralini paper (October 2016) In September 2012 Professor Gilles Eric Séralini and co-authors published a study in the Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology. On 29 November 2013 the journal retracted the paper and stated the following: 'The journal Food and Chemical Toxicology retracts the article 'Long term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize,' which was published in this journal in November 2012. This retraction comes after a thorough and time-consuming analysis of the published article and the data it reports, along with an investigation into the peer-review behind the article. The Editor in-Chief deferred making any public statements regarding this article until this investigation was complete, and the authors were notified of the findings.'…

Published 14 October 2016

Food derived from GM plants containing stacked genes

Food derived from GM plants containing stacked genes (August 2019) What is gene stacking? Gene stacking refers to the process of combining genes of interest into a single plant line. It is used in conventional as well as genetically modified (GM) crops to develop improved lines. A stacked GM line contains at least two novel genes. Stacked genes are sometimes referred to as stacked events; gene stacking as gene pyramiding How are the genes combined? Traditional plant breeding is the most common way to stack novel genes in GM crops. Individual GM plant lines, each expressing a desired trait or multiple traits, are cross fertilised to produce a new generation of plants exhibiting the traits of the parent lines. Examples of stacked GM lines generated using traditional breeding include:

  • Roundup…

    Published 21 August 2019

Annexe with the Department of Agriculture on imported food

Annexe with the Department of Agriculture on imported food An arrangement for coordination of procedures and communication of imported food issues between - Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the Department of Agriculture

What we do (and don't do)

What we do (and don't do)   Transcript The Australian and New Zealand joint food regulation system involves governments at all levels. Our role is to develop and manage standards for food. Some of the standards we develop are for both Australia and New Zealand. Others are for Australia only. Standards become part of food laws in Australian states and territories and in New Zealand.  They are enforced by state and territory governments and the New Zealand government. The joint Food Standards Code includes requirements for labelling, composition (for some foods) and permissions for things like processing aids, additives and vitamins and minerals in food.   The code also has food safety standards and primary production and processing standards that apply only in Australia. We also help coordinate…

Published 21 January 2019

Warning and advisory statements

Warning and advisory statements Advisory statements Advisory statements must be provided for certain foods or ingredients which may cause health risks for some consumers. Foods or ingredients that fall into this category include:

  • aspartame - labels on food containing the intense sweetener aspartame must indicate the food contains phenylalanine (which can affect people with the rare genetic disorder phenylketonuria)
  • guarana or guarana extracts - labels on food containing guarana or extracts of guarana (which is a natural source of caffeine) must indicate that the food contains caffeine
  • plant sterols - labels on foods containing added plant…

    Published 24 February 2016

Country of origin labelling

Country of origin labelling Country of origin labelling requirements in Australia The Australian Government introduced a country of origin food labelling system under Australian Consumer Law on 1 July 2016. Country of origin labelling requirements for food is in the Country of Origin Food Labelling Information Standard 2016, under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. These requirements became mandatory on 1 July 2018. At the same time, the Food Standards Code was amended to remove country of origin labelling requirements. Further information on country of origin food labelling is available on the following websites:

  • …

    Published 25 February 2022

Use-by and best-before dates

Use-by and best-before dates Date marks give a guide to how long food can be kept before it begins to deteriorate or may become unsafe to eat. The two types of date marking are use-by dates and best-before dates. The food supplier is responsible for placing a use-by or best-before date on food. Foods that must be eaten before a certain time for health or safety reasons should be marked with a use-by date. Foods should not be eaten after the use-by date and can't legally be sold after this date because they may pose a health or safety risk. Most foods have a best-before date. You can still eat foods for a while after the best-before date as they should be safe but they may have lost some quality. Foods that have a best-before date can legally be sold after that date provided the food is fit for human consumption…

Published 29 April 2022