Notice - Notification of WTO Members: Proposal P1055 - Definitions for gene technology and new breeding techniques – 2nd Call for Submissions and Supporting documents.


WTO code G/SPS/N/AUS/592
Date notice 29/07/2024
Notice type Regular
Title Proposal P1055 - Definitions for gene technology and new breeding techniques – 2nd Call for Submissions and Supporting documents.
Summary

Proposal P1055 proposes to amend the definitions for 'food produced using gene technology' and 'gene technology' in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) to ensure it is clear what foods are genetically modified (GM) for Code purposes, while also ensuring that foods are regulated according to the risk they pose.

FSANZ has prepared a draft variation to the Code, which extends across six food standards and four schedules. Key aspects include:

• Repealing the existing definitions for 'food produced using gene technology' and 'gene technology' and replacing them with a new definition for 'genetically modified food' based around the presence of novel DNA in the organism from which the food is derived;

• Explicit exclusions from the GM food definition for substances added to food, substances used in cell culture media for the production of cell-cultured food, and food from null segregant organisms and grafted plants;

• New definitions for 'novel DNA', 'novel protein' and 'null segregant'.

The primary objective of the Proposal is to ensure clarity on which foods are GM foods for Code purposes, while also accommodating new and emerging technologies for genetic modification and changes in the international regulatory context.

The proposed amendments would provide a clear definition for GM food for enforcement purposes and reduce uncertainty about which foods require pre-market assessment as GM foods, while continuing to protect public health and safety.

No transition period is proposed. The proposed variations to the six Standards and four Schedules are:

• unlikely to have any impact on products currently on the market; or

• are deregulatory in nature and provide exemptions to current requirements for products on the market.

The standard 12 month stock in trade provisions in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code will apply.

We are notifying other aspects of these measures under the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement. 

Product Genetically modified food and food derived from new breeding techniques (NBTs)
Country Australia

File attach:
NAUS592.pdf

Orther Notice:


G/SPS/N/EGY/158 - Draft of Egyptian standard ES 6933 for "Quick-Frozen Cauliflower".
G/SPS/N/EGY/159 - Draft of the Egyptian Standard ES 612 for "Blended Tobacco for Cigarettes".
G/SPS/N/EGY/161 - Draft of Egyptian Standard ES 1748 for "Green Peas".
G/SPS/N/EGY/160 - Draft of the Egyptian Standard ES 2063 for "Essential Requirements and Descriptive Criteria for Fruit-Flavored Maassel Tobacco".
G/SPS/N/EGY/162 - Draft of the Egyptian Standard ES-1521 for "Canned Finfish"
G/SPS/N/EU/863 - Draft Commission Implementing Regulation withdrawing from the market certain feed additives (Text with EEA relevance)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1355 - Revision of the Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards).
G/SPS/N/JPN/1356 - Revision of the Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards).
G/SPS/N/JPN/1357 - Revision of the Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards).
G/SPS/N/JPN/1358 - Revision of the Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards)
G/SPS/N/GBR/103 - New GB MRL for potassium phosphonates amending the GB MRL Statutory Register.
G/SPS/N/GBR/104 - Proposed GB MRLs for fenamiphos amending the GB MRL Statutory Register.
G/SPS/N/GBR/105 - New GB MRL for acetamiprid amending the GB MRL Statutory Register.
G/SPS/N/KOR/824 - Proposed Amendments to the Regulation on the Declaration and Inspection of Imported Food Products, etc, - Administrative Notice No. 2025-289, 2 July 2025.
G/SPS/N/TPKM/645/Add.1 - The implementation of the amendment of the "Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Plants or Plant Products"
G/SPS/N/TPKM/645 - Draft amendment of the "Quarantine Requirements for the Importation of Plants or Plant Products".
G/SPS/N/USA/3257/Add.1 - Listing of Color Additives Exempt From Certification; Gardenia (Genipin) Blue; Final Amendment; Order
G/SPS/N/EU/861 - Commission Implementing Regulation concerning the denial of the renewal of the authorisation of a preparation containing a smoke flavouring extract-2b0001 as a feed additive for dogs and cats and repealing Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1076/2014 (Text with EEA relevance)
G/SPS/N/EU/862 - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1254 of 25 June 2025 concerning the authorisation of riboflavin produced from Eremothecium ashbyi CCTCCM 2019833, in the form of a dried inactivated fermentation product, as a feed additive for all animal species (Text with EEA relevance)
G/SPS/N/PAN/91 - Reglamento Técnico "Tecnología de los Alimentos.Tomate. Requisitos".
G/SPS/N/PAN/92 - Reglamento Técnico "Tecnología de los Alimentos.Hortalizas Frescas. Zanahorias. Requisitos".
G/SPS/N/JPN/1292/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/USA/3519 - Receipt of Pesticide Petitions Filed for Residues of Pesticide Chemicals in or on Various Commodities (February-May 2025).
G/SPS/N/VNM/167/Add.1 - Draft Decree amending Decree No 15/2018/NĐ-CP dated 2 February 2018, of Government
G/SPS/N/BRA/2407/Add.1 - Draft Resolution number 1329, 25 April 2025
G/SPS/N/MDA/30 - Order of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry No. 34/2025 on the approval of the list of active substances.
G/SPS/N/MDA/31 - Order of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry No. 56/2025 on the approval of the list of unacceptable co-formulants at the European Union level to be included in a plant protection product
G/SPS/N/ARE/297, G/SPS/N/BHR/251 G/SPS/N/KWT/176, G/SPS/N/OMN/146 G/SPS/N/QAT/150, G/SPS/N/SAU/568 G/SPS/N/YEM/91 - General Requirements for Genetically Modified Processed Food and Feed.
G/SPS/N/ARE/298, G/SPS/N/BHR/252, G/SPS/N/KWT/177, G/SPS/N/OMN/147 G/SPS/N/QAT/151, G/SPS/N/SAU/569, G/SPS/N/YEM/92 - General Requirements for Genetically Modified Unprocessed Food and Feed.
G/SPS/N/JPN/1353 - Proposed revision of Ministerial Ordinance on the Specifications and Standards of Feeds and Feed Additives
G/SPS/N/SAU/474/Add.2 - Final draft of Health Certificate for Exporting Feed Products to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ("Animal origin or containing animal protein" and "Plant origin")
G/SPS/N/CAN/1576/Add.1 - Updated Proposal - Ministerial class exemption order for the exceptional importation and sale of certain foods for a special dietary purpose to mitigate a shortage or risk of a shortage
G/SPS/N/JPN/1277/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1278/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1279/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1280/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1281/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1282/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1283/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1284/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1285/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1286/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1287/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1288/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1289/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1290/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1291/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1293/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1297/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)
G/SPS/N/JPN/1298/Add.1 - Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, Etc. under the Food Sanitation Act (Revision of agricultural chemical residue standards, final rule)