Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has called for submissions on an application seeking to permit food from a genetically modified (GM) canola line that produces an omega-3 fatty acid.
FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Mark Booth said the line (developed by CSIRO and Nuseed Pty Ltd) was modified to produce the long chain fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the seed.
“The applicant has stated that this canola line could provide an alternate source of DHA for food manufacturers in a range of products,” Mr Booth said.
“FSANZ conducted a thorough safety assessment of the canola line, which included a nutrition risk assessment and dietary exposure assessment and has concluded there are no public health and safety concerns relating to this canola line.”
All FSANZ decisions on applications are notified to ministers responsible for food regulation who can decide to ask for a review or agree that the standard should become law.
The closing date for submissions is 26 October 2017.