FED: Genetically modified soybeans, cotton cleared

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-1999
FED: Genetically modified soybeans, cotton cleared

EMBARGOED UNTIL 0600 AEDT WEDNESDAY 17 FEBRUARY 1999

CANBERRA, Feb 17 AAP - Genetically modified soybeans and cottonseed have been recommended
as safe for use in Australian foods in the first assessment of its kind by the country's food
standards body.

Food containing Roundup Ready soybeans or Ingard Cottonseed will not (NOT) need to be
labelled initially, because these products have been assessed as "substantially equivalent" to
unmodified soybeans and cottonseed, the Australian New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) said.

But foods containing these modified products will have to be labelled when a more stringent
labelling standard, still being developed, comes into force.

"ANZFA has found, following rigorous examination of test data, that Roundup Ready soybeans
and Ingard Cottonseed have no public health and safety concerns," ANZFA said in a statement.

"These products were also found to be substantially equivalent to food from their
conventional counterparts in respect of its composition, safety, wholesomeness and end use."

Industry, professional and consumer groups will be asked to comment on the assessments
before health ministers consider the matter in April.

Public comments on the testing process also will be accepted.

Ingard cotton is grown in Australia. Cottonseed oil extracted from it is used in a variety
of foods, including for frying, mayonnaise and salad dressings.

Roundup Ready soybeans are imported from the United States and used in vegetable oil and
protein meal supplied to animal feed manufacturers.

A small amount of soybean protein meal may be used in products for people, ANZFA said.

ANZFA is considering applications for genetically modified canola, cotton and corn.

ANZFA also released today proposed changes to food standards. These include:

* No requirement for specific compositional or recipe standards for sauces, chutneys and
pickles, and jams, marmalade and related products, leaving greater scope for "flexibility to
meet diverse consumer tastes".

* Mandatory listing of food ingredients which pose a health risk to some people, including
peanuts, milk products, and gluten.

* Less stringent requirements for the size and quality of print on labels, which will need
only to be legible and in English.

Comments on these food standards will be accepted until March 31.

AAP kaw/it

KEYWORD: FOOD

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.