Call for submissions on GM corn line application

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today called for submissions on its assessment of a corn line that is genetically modified to be tolerant to a herbicide and protected against certain pests.

FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said the corn had been modified to be tolerant to glufosinate ammonium and to be protected from pests such as the western corn rootworm.

"FSANZ conducted a thorough safety assessment on the application, which included comparing the GM corn with a non-GM corn from a molecular, toxicological and nutritional point of view," Mr McCutcheon said.

"The aim of the assessment is to find out if there are any differences between the GM food and its conventional counterpart. No public health or safety issues were identified and the corn was found to be as safe as its conventional counterpart."

Submissions are invited from government agencies, public health professionals, industry and the community.

All FSANZ decisions on standards are notified to ministers responsible for food regulation. The ministers can decide to adopt, amend, or reject standards or they can ask for a review.

The closing date for submissions is 29 March 2016.