. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/167
13 February 2002
(02-0712)
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:  Australian 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 products derived from genetically modified bromoxynil-tolerant canola
(Brassica napus ).  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 assessment (full assessment –
s.15);  application 388;  oil from bromoxynil-tolerant canola line Westar-Oxy- 235;
6 February 2002" (62 pages, English)
5. Description of content: ANZFA has received an application to amend the Australia New
Zealand Food Standards Code  to approve the use of food products derived from genetically
modified bromoxynil-tolerant canola ( Brassica napus) .  This canola is tolerant to applications
of the herbicide bromoxynil, and is known commercially as Navigator™ canola.  The report
describes the scientific assessment of this application.
Foods produced using gene technology are required to undergo a pre-market assessment of
their safety, to ensure that they are as safe as their conventional counterparts.
All applications to change the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code , must be
assessed in the context of the following objectives:  (a) the protection of public health and
safety;  (b) the provision of adequate information relating to food to enable consumers tomake informed choices;  and (c) the prevention of misleading or deceptive conduct.
If application A388 is approved the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code  will be
amended to permit foods derived from bromoxynil-tolerant canola (Brassica napus, known
commercially as Navigator™ canola.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [  X ] 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:  New Zealand Food
Regulations 1984 , Australian Food Standards Code (both in English), Standard 1.5.2.G/SPS/N/NZL/167
Page 2
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Recommendation to Government anticipated to be made mid
2002, adoption to follow  pending Government approval.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  Not known, date of entry after Government approval
(see 9. above).
11. Final date for comments:  15 April 2002
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:  Mr. Keawe
Woodmore, Coordinator, SPS New Zealand, PO Box 2526, 101-103 The Terrace, Wellington,
New Zealand;  Tel: +64 4 474 4226;  Fax:  +64 4 470 2730;  E-mail:  sps@maf.govt.nz
Website:  http://www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/sps/transparency/notifications/index.htm
This document has also been notified by Australia.