. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/68
14 September 2000
(00-3602)
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-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 A382 - Food derived from insect-protected potato lines BT-06, ATBT04-06,
ATBT04-31, ATBT04-36, and SPBT02-05 (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 five insect-
protected potato lines produced using gene t echnology to be listed in Standard A18 – Food
Produced Using Gene Technology of the Food Standards Code .
The five lines of Russet Burbank, Atlantic and Superior potatoes were genetically modified
to be protected against a range of insects, including the Colorado potato beetle (CPB).
These potatoes are known commercially as New Leaf® potatoes.  The New Leaf® potatoes
are protected against CPB through the transfer of the cry3Aa  gene from the soil bacterium
Bacillus thuringiensis  subspecies tenebrionis.
New Leaf® potatoes are not grown in Australia or New Zealand and are currently not
permitted to be imported into Australia or New Zealand as fresh produce.  Rather, they
currently enter into the market in 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 requiringa pre-market safety assessment of foods derived from gene technology on a case-by-case
basis.  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 inNew Zealand as a mandatory standard under section 112 of the New Zealand Food Act
1981 as amended.
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   G/SPS/N/NZL/68
Page 2
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 A382.
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.