High lysine corn approved for use in NZ
High lysine corn can now be imported and sold in New Zealand, although such products would have to adhere to GM labelling requirements, says New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) Director, Carole Inkster.
“Although the corn was assessed as safe some time ago, and was approved by
the Australia New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council in July, the
previous Minister for Food Safety (Minister King) delayed its gazettal in New
Zealand while she sought advice as to whether approvals for varieties not
intended for human food use are within the scope of the Food Treaty New Zealand
shares with Australia.
NZFSA has worked through this issue and advice on
this legal matter has now been received. It confirms that approvals for this
type of variety are within the scope of the Food Treaty.”
High lysine
corn has been approved as safe by every country asked to assess it as far as
NZFSA is aware. It is a high-value animal feed and its use as a human food is
allowed in the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia and the Philippines. The
approval for use of high lysine corn as an animal feed does not allow it to be
grown in New Zealand. This would require assessment and approval by the New
Zealand Risk Management Authority (ERMA) and further public
consultation.
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