- CANBERRA (Asia Pulse) -
Australia
New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA), the food safety watchdog, has given
preliminary approval to plans by two multinational firms to release GM
foods.
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- Monsanto has sought approval to release genetically
modified
corn into the Australian market, while Aventis wants approval to sell GM
canola oil.
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- Both products have been genetically modified to make
them resistant to herbicides, while the corn is also resistant to a type
of insect.
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- ANZFA acting managing director Greg Roche said the
organisation's
preliminary study of the products found them to be safe for human
consumption.
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- Mr Roche said a series of ANZFA studies had shown GM
foods to be safe.
-
- "I can say with some certainty that we know more
about the genetic make-up of these GM foods than any other food in the
food supply," he said in a statement.
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- "I can also say with certainty that the scientific
evidence shows that the GM foods studied and recommended for approval are
no more allergenic or toxic than their conventional counterparts and are
just as nutritious."
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- The GM corn is proposed to be used in flour, breakfast
cereals, corn syrup and other starch products, while the canola oil would
be largely used for cooking products.
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- In its initial study, ANZFA said it had looked at
concerns
that the GM corn could lead to antibiotic resistance, but found there were
no safety concerns.
-
- It also found the corn produced two new proteins, but
most of this was in the plant's leaves.
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- Studies of the proteins found they were neither toxic
nor an allergen in humans.
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- Mr Roche said ANZFA had received 23 applications for
GM food, of which 12 had been approved, four were pending ministerial
approval,
five were out for public consultation and two had been withdrawn.
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- Public comment on the GM corn and canola close by the
end of March, before ANZFA makes a final recommendation.
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