. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/66
14 September 2000
(00-3599)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  NEW ZEALAND
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA)
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Food derived from insect and virus Y-protected potato lines  Regions or
countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All countries
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Draft Risk Analysis Report:
Application A384 - Food derived from insect and virus Y-protected potato lines RBMT15-
101, SEMT15-02 and SEMT15-15 (68 pages)
5. Description of content:  The draft report describes the scientific assessments undertaken and
recommends addition to the list of approved foods in Standard A18.  The report results from
an application for the approval of food derived from three insect and virus Y-protected potato
lines produced using gene technology to be listed in Standard A18 – Food Produced Using
Gene Technology of the Food Standards Code.
The three lines of Russet Burbank and Shepody potatoes have been genetically modified in
order to provide protection against a range of insects, including the Colorado potato beetle
(CPB) as well as against potato virus Y (PVY).  These potatoes are known commercially as
New Leaf® Y potatoes.  The New Leaf® Y po tatoes are protected against CPB and PVY
through the transfer of two genes — the cry3Aa  gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus
thuringiensis  subspecies tenebrionis (B.t.t. ) and the PVYcp  gene from PVY.
New Leaf® Y potatoes are not grown in Australia or New Zealand and are currently not
permitted to be imported into Australia and New Zealand as fresh produce.  Rather, the
principle food products containing these potato varieties are likely to be imported processed
food commodities such as processed potato crisps, pre-cooked French fries, potato flour andpotato starch.
New Zealand previously made a notification under the SPS Agreement on 19 February 1997
(G/SPS/N/NZL/9), informing other Members of a proposal to establish a standard requiring
a pre-market safety assessment of foods derived from gene technology on a case-by-case
basis.  New Zealand notified (G/SPS/N/NZL/52) on 26 November 1999 the availability for
public comment the draft amended standard, which regulates the sale of foods and foodingredients, other than additives and processing aids, which are produced using gene
technology.  Standard A18 – Food produced using gene technology, has been adopted in
New Zealand as a mandatory standard under section 112 of the New Zealand Food Act
1981 as amended.G/SPS/N/NZL/66
Page 2
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [   ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests   
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: Australian Food
Standards Code ; New Zealand Food Regulations 1984  (both in English)
9. Proposed date of adoption: Recommendation to Government anticipated late 2000;
adoption to follow, pending Government approval.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  Not known, expected in early to mid 2002 (pending
adoption in late 2000).
11. Final date for comments:  30 October 2000
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:  Australia New Zealand Food Authority, PO Box 7186, Canberra
Mail Centre ACT 2610, Australia;  Fax:  +61 2 6271 2278;  E-mail:  info@anzfa.gov.au
12. Texts available from: [  X ] National notification authority, [   ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: Australia New
Zealand Food Authority quoting Application A384.
Australia New Zealand Food Authority, PO Box 7186, Canberra Mail Centre ACT 2610,
Australia;  Fax:  +61 2 6271 2278;  E-mail:  info@anzfa.gov.au
This document has also been notified by Australia.