Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today called for submissions on an application to permit the sale and use of food from a genetically modified soybean line.
FSANZ Acting Chief Executive Officer Marion Healy said the soybean line had been genetically modified to be protected against lepidopteran pests, including key soybean pests, the bean shoot moth, sunflower looper and fall armyworm.
“FSANZ has assessed the application and determined there are no public health and safety concerns,” Healy said.
“Based on the data provided in the application, and other available information, food derived from this soybean line is considered to be as safe for human consumption as food derived from conventional soybean cultivars.”
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 6pm, 26 August 2015.