WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/AUS/34
26February 1997
ORGANIZATION
(97-0803)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION
1. Member toAgreement notifying: AUSTRALIA
Ifapplicable, name oflocal government involved:
2. Agency responsible: Australia NewZealand Food Authority
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) asspecified innational schedules deposited with
theWTO. ICSnumbers may beprovided inaddition, where applicable): Foods derived
from genetechnology
4. Title andnumber ofpages ofthenotified document: Explanatory Notes -Proposal P97
(9pages)
5. Description ofcontent: Aproposal toinclude astandard, A18-Food Derived from
Gene Technology, intheAustralian Food Standards code.Thisstandard willestablish
therequirement toassess thesafety offoods derived from genetechnology onacase-
by-case basis. Itisproposed thatindividual foods derived from genetechnology will
bepermitted tobesoldonlywhen approved andspecified inthestandard. Safety
assessments willbeconducted using theguidelines referred toin8below.
6. Objective andrationale: Food safety
7. Aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation does notexist [X].
Ifaninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents andlanguage(s) inwhich these areavailable: Information Paper
Assessment Guidelines forfoods andfoodingredients tobeincluded inStandard A18-
Food Derived fromGene Technology (29pages)
9. Proposed date ofadoption: Recommendation toGovernment anticipated July1997
10. Proposed date ofentry intoforce: Anticipated entry intoforce December 1997
./.G/SPS/N/AUS/34
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11. Final date forcomments: Thedomestic closing dateforcomments is3April 1997
however comments from members canbeaccepted until30April 1997.
Agency orauthority designated tohandle comments:
12. Texts available from: National enquiry point []oraddress, telefax number andE-mail
address (ifavailable) ofother body:
Australia NewZealand Food Authority
Fax: +6162712278,quoting Proposal P97