[pf] Austr. & N.Z. GM Food Labeling Requirements; USDA report.

At 07:25 4/1/2001 +1300, I (David Mac) wrote to GV-NZ:
>· In:
>
http://www.fas.usda.gov/scriptsw/attacherep/default.asp ,
>
>· in the yellow section: Search by Date and Commodities/Countries;
>
>· select button: Custom, then change year to 2000
>
>· leave "All Commodities" as is, but change "Country" to New Zealand,
>
>· then push Search.
>
>
>· You get a 95 kB document listing about 54 reports, 


· the second-from-top being:
>
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>Dec 19 2000 | New Zealand | Australia New Zealand Food Authority Approves
>GM Labeling Requirements
> ...
>NZ0071 | 
<a href="http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200012/65679123.pdf">View the
>Acrobat version</a> 
>

· which is:

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Foreign Agricultural Service
GAIN Report;  Global Agriculture Information Network

Voluntary Report - public distribution Date: 12/14/2000
GAIN Report #NZ0071
New Zealand
Biotechnology

Australia New Zealand Food Authority Approves GM Labeling Requirements 2000

Approved by: David Young, U.S. Embassy
Prepared by: Rachel Monk
Unscheduled Report
Wellington [NZ1], NZ

Report Highlights: New Zealand’s Ministry of Health has announced that
mandatory labelling of genetically modified foods, where introduced DNA or
protein is present in the final food, will come into force on December 7,
2001.
Labelling will be required for any GM food imports and any domestic foods.
The Australia New Zealand Food Authority made the announcement in early
December following the gazettal of amendments to: 
Standard A18 of the Food Standards Code-
_Food_produced_using_gene_technology_.

GAIN Report #NZ0071     UNCLASSIFIED. Foreign Agricultural Service/USDA
New Zealand’s Ministry of Health has stated that mandatory labelling of
genetically modified foods, where introduced DNA or protein is present in
the final food, will come into force on December 7, 2001. The Australia New
Zealand Food Authority made the announcement in early December following
the gazettal of amendments to Standard A18 of the Food Standards Code -Food
produced using gene technology. (A 12-month period is allowed for
businesses to comply). Agreement between New Zealand and Australian federal
and state health ministers to label all genetically modified foods was made
at a meeting in July. The amended standard was reportedly a response to
consumer concerns about genetically modified foods and their desire for
more information. Under the amended standard, food or ingredients labelled
"genetically modified" either contains new genetic material or protein as a
result of the genetic modification or has altered characteristics - such as
changed nutritional values.

For the purpose of the standard _genetically_modified_food_ means food
which is, or contains as an ingredient, including a processing aid, a food
produced using gene technology which -
• contains novel DNA and/or novel protein; or
• has altered characteristics;

but does not include -
• highly refined food, other than that with altered characteristics, where
the effect of the refining process is to remove novel DNA and/or novel
protein; 
• a processing aid or food additive, except where novel DNA and/or novel
protein from the processing aid or food additive remains present in the
food to which it has been added;
• flavours present in the food in a concentration no more than 1g/kg
(0.1%); or
• a food, ingredient, or processing aid in which genetically modified food
is unintentionally present in a quantity no more than 10g/kg (1%) per
ingredient.

Altered characteristics means any of the following matters:

• the genetic modification has resulted in one or more significant
composition or nutritional parameters having values outside the normal
range of values for existing counterpart food not produced using gene
technology;
• the level of anti-nutritional factors or natural toxicants are
significantly different in comparison to the existing counterpart food not
produced using gene technology;
• the food produced using gene technology contains a new factor known to
cause an allergic response in particular sections of the population;
• the intended use of the food produced using gene technology is different
to the existing counterpart food not produced using gene technology; or
• the genetic modification raises significant ethical, cultural and
religious concerns regarding the origin of the genetic material used in the
genetic modification.

Novel DNA and/or novel protein means DNA or a protein which, as a result of
the use of gene technology, is different in chemical sequence or structure
from DNA or protein present in counterpart food which has not been produced
using gene technology.

# Any statement required by clause 5 may be contained in the statement of
ingredients
where the genetically modified food is an ingredient or processing aid.

# Where genetically modified food is displayed for retail sale other than
in a package, any information that would have been required under clause 5
of this Standard on the label on or attached to the food if it was
packaged, must be displayed on or in connection with the display of the food.

# This Standard does not apply to food intended for immediate consumption
which is prepared and sold from food premised and vending vehicles,
including restaurants, take away outlets, caterers, or self-catering
institutions.

To meet the new requirement, food businesses such as manufacturers,
packers, importers and retailers must take all reasonable steps to:
• find out if their food is GM or has a GM ingredient - this includes
additives and processing aids;
• find out if the GM food or ingredient is approved by ANZFA; and
• determine what the labelling requirements are for the food.

The food business applying the food label or relabelling food to meet the
Standard’s requirement (e.g. a food importer) has the primary
responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of the label. There is a
requirement under Australian and New Zealand food legislation for
businesses to exercise due diligence in complying with food standards. The
best way to meet these obligations is for businesses to use a paper or
audit trail similar to a quality assurance system or testing for novel DNA
or protein.

CLAUSE 5. Labelling Format of Genetically Modified Food
The label on or attached to a package of genetically modified food must
include the statement "genetically modified" in conjunction with the name
of that food or ingredient or processing aid.

Example for single ingredient genetically modified foods:
Soy Flour
Genetically Modified Soy Flour
>From genetically modified soya beans

Example for genetically modified food ingredients:
Ingredients: Soy Protein Isolate (genetically modified), Maltodextrin,
Vegetable Oil: Food Acid (332), Emulsifier (471), Vegetable Gum (407),
Water Added.

Note: The label on or attached to a package of food which is not defined as
"genetically modified" food in the standard is not required to include any
statement about the generic status of the food.
More information can be obtained by visiting the ANZFA websit at: 
www.anzfa.govt.nz
A compliance guide to assist businesses in complying with the new labeling
requirements is also available from the ANZFA website.

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sent on by David.
(David MacClement) davd@ihug.co.nz 
http://www.geocities.com/davdd.geo/index.html#top
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