Food safety and quality
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OECD Unique Identifier details

SPS-ØØØZ6-5
Commodity: Potatoes
Traits: Reduced levels of arginine and reducing sugars, reduced black spot bruising,Resistance to late blight
Australia
Name of product applicant: Simplot Plant Sciences International
Summary of application:

FSANZ received an application to vary Schedule 26 in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) to include food derived from a genetically modified potato line SPS-ØØØZ6 (Z6) from the Simplot Innate brand. This line has been modified for reduced acrylamide potential, reduced black spot bruising and resistance to blight.


Z6 is derived from a second generation line SPS-ØØV11 (V11), genetically modified using RNA interference (RNAi) to suppress the expression of four native potato genes to mediate a reduction in acrylamide potential and black spot bruising. No new proteins are expressed. V11 is similar to lines E12, F10 and J3 assessed in Applications A1128 and A1139 respectively.


A second transformation was carried out on V11 to produce Z6. The aim of this second transformation was to: (i) reduce sucrose hydrolysis leading to less reducing sugars thus further decreasing the acrylamide potential of the potato; and (ii) protect the plant from infection by the same late blight fungus (Phytophthora infestans) that was responsible for the Great Potato Famine in Ireland in the 1840’s.


In order to further reduce the acrylamide potential of the potato, RNAi was used to target the gene for vacuolar invertase (VInv). The expressed invertase converts stored sucrose into glucose and fructose, particularly on the outer edge of the potatoes, which has been associated with darkening on the ends of French fries and crisps. The activity of this enzyme also increases with decreasing temperature, leading to an increase in reducing sugar formation at the cold temperatures normally used for storage of potatoes.


The gene added for protection against late blight is the late blight resistance gene (Rpi-vnt1) from the related potato species Solanum venturii. The resulting VNT1 resistance protein allows the plant to detect the presence of the infecting organism P. infestans, leading to the induction of the plant’s immune response and elimination of the fungus. This novel protein does not have a pesticidal mode of action.


The main objective of the application is to obtain food safety approval for trade purposes. The Applicant is not currently seeking permission to cultivate Z6 in Australia or New Zealand however processed products may enter the local food market through imports. 

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Date of authorization: 03/12/2020
Scope of authorization: Food
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.): OECD Biotrack database
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Upload:
Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment: A1199 – Food derived from Innate potato lines V11 & Z6
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Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Contact person name:
Website:
Physical full address:
Level 4, 15 Lancaster Place, Majura Park ACT 2609, Australia
Phone number:
+61 2 6271 2222
Fax number:
+61 2 6271 2278
Country introduction:

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is the regulatory agency responsible for the development of food standards in Australia and New Zealand. The main office (approximately 115 staff) is located in Canberra (in the Australian Capital Territory) and the smaller New Zealand office (approximately 10 staff) is located in Wellington on the North Island.

Useful links
Relevant documents
Stacked events:

FSANZ does not: Separately assess food from stacked event lines where food from the GM parents has already been approved; Mandate notification of stacked events by developers; Notify the public of stacked event ‘approvals’; List food derived from stacked event lines in the Code, unless the stacked event line has been separately assessed as a single line e.g. Application A518: MXB-13 cotton (DAS-21023-5 x DAS-24236-5)

No separate approval or safety assessment is necessary for foods derived from a stacked GM line that is the result of traditional breeding between a number of GM parent lines for which food has already been approved. Food from the parent lines must be listed in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The parent lines may contain any number of different genes. If food from any of the GM parent lines has not been approved, then a full pre-market safety assessment of food from the stacked line must be undertaken.

No separate approval is required for food derived from a line that is the product of a GM line, for which food has been approved, crossed traditionally with a non-GM line.

Where a single line containing a number of genes has been produced as a result of direct gene technology methods (rather than traditional crossing) then food derived from the line must undergo a full pre-market safety assessment before approval can be given

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) (http://www.foodstandards.gov.au)

Canada
Name of product applicant: J.R. Simplot Company
Summary of application:

Simplot has developed a genetically modified potato (Solanum tuberosum) event Gen2-Z6 (developed from Snowden), which exhibits reduced levels of free asparagine in tubers, as well as lowered levels of reducing sugars (i.e., glucose and fructose) in tubers. The reduction in asparagine significantly decreases acrylamide formation in tubers when subjected to various forms of thermal processing (e.g., baking, frying, etc.). Lower levels of reducing sugars further decreases acrylamide formation and limits heat-induced browning. This potato event also exhibits reduced expression of polyphenol oxidase 5 enzyme (Ppo5), resulting in a decreased incidence of black spot bruising in tubers. Lastly, this potato event expresses a resistance protein (R-protein) found in wildSolanum species Solanum venturii and Solanum phureja (VNT1). The VNT1 protein enables the potato plant to detect an effector protein, Avr-Vnt1, which is produced by Phytophthora infestans; an oomycete that causes late blight in potatoes. Detection of the effector protein allows the potato plant to initiate its native immune response to resist infection by Pinfestans.

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Date of authorization: 24/09/2020
Scope of authorization: Food
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.): OECD BioTrack Product Database
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Please see decision document weblink
Upload:
Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment: Novel Foods Decision Document
Upload:
Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Health Canada
Contact person name:
Neil Strand
Website:
Physical full address:
251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Tunney's Pasture, PL 2204A1
Phone number:
613-946-1317
Fax number:
Country introduction:

Federal responsibility for the regulations dealing with foods sold in Canada, including novel foods, is shared by Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Health Canada is responsible for establishing standards and policies governing the safety and nutritional quality of foods and developing labelling policies related to health and nutrition. The CFIA develops standards related to the packaging, labelling and advertising of foods, and handles all inspection and enforcement duties. The CFIA also has responsibility for the regulation of seeds, veterinary biologics, fertilizers and livestock feeds. More specifically, CFIA is responsible for the regulations and guidelines dealing with cultivating plants with novel traits and dealing with livestock feeds and for conducting the respective safety assessments, whereas Health Canada is responsible for the regulations and guidelines pertaining to novel foods and for conducting safety assessments of novel foods.

The mechanism by which Health Canada controls the sale of novel foods in Canada is the mandatory pre-market notification requirement as set out in Division 28 of Part B of the Food and Drug Regulations.

Manufacturers or importers are required under these regulations to submit information to Health Canada regarding the product in question so that a determination can be made with respect to the product's safety prior to sale. The safety criteria for the assessment of novel foods outlined in the current guidance document (i.e. Canadian Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Novel Foods) were derived from internationally established scientific principles and guidelines developed through the work of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission. These guidelines provide for both the rigour and the flexibility required to determine the need for notification and to conduct the safety assessment of the broad range of food products being developed. This flexibility is needed to allow novel foods and food products to be assessed on a case-by-case basis and to take into consideration future scientific advances.

Useful links
Relevant documents
Stacked events:

Food: Consistent with the definition of "novel food" in Division 28 of the Food and Drug Regulations, the progeny derived from the conventional breeding of approved genetically modified plants (one or both parents are genetically modified) would not be classified as a novel food unless some form of novelty was introduced into such progeny as a result of the cross, hence triggering the requirement for pre-market notification under Division 28. For example, notification may be required for modifications observed in the progeny that result in a change of existing characteristics of the plant that places those characteristics outside of the accepted range, or, that introduce new characteristics not previously observed in that plant (e.g. a major change has occurred in the expression levels of traits when stacked). In addition, the use of a wild species (interspecific cross) not having a history of safe use in the food supply in the development of a new plant line may also require notification to Health Canada. However, molecular stacks are considered new events and are considered to be notifiable as per Division 28.

Feed:

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Neil Strand, Section Head of Novel Foods

Japan
Name of product applicant: J.R. Simplot Company
Summary of application:

Potato blight containing low free asparagine, low reducing sugar, and low polyphenole oxidizing enzyme

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Date of authorization: 03/12/2022
Scope of authorization: Food and feed
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.):
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
The FSCJ concluded that no concern relevant to human health is raised on potato SPS-00Z6-5 line.
Upload:
Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment:
Upload:
Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Food Safety Commission Secretariat,Cabinet Office,
Contact person name:
Kojiro Yokonuma
Website:
Physical full address:
Akasaka 5-2-20 Minato Ward,Tokyo,Japan
Phone number:
81 3 6234 1122
Fax number:
81 3 3584 7392
Country introduction:
Safety assessments of GM foods are mandatory under the Food Sanitation Law in Japan. The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) legally imposes safety assessments of GM foods so that those that have not undergone safety assessments would not be distributed in the country. MHLW receives application and requests the Food Safety COmmission of Japan (FSCJ) to evaluate the safety of GM foods in terms of human health. Safety assessments are carried out by FSCJ.
Useful links
Relevant documents
Stacked events:

With regard to stacked events, FSCJ conducts the safety assessment of GM food based on the “Policies Regarding the Safety Assessment of Stacked Varieties of Genetically Modified Plants”.

Even if single events that are stacked have already approved, some products will be considered as new products and some will not.

Please refer to Article 5 and 6 of the MHLW’s notice, which is available at the following URL, for the details.

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-11130500-Shokuhinanzenbu/0000053519.pdf

Article 6 was modified in 2014, and the modified version is available at the following URL.

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-11130500-Shokuhinanzenbu/0000049695.pdf

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Food Safety Commission of Japan (http://www.fsc.go.jp/english/index.html), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/health-medical/food/index.html)

New Zealand
Name of product applicant: Simplot Plant Sciences International
Summary of application:

FSANZ received an application to vary Schedule 26 in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) to include food derived from a genetically modified potato line SPS-ØØØZ6 (Z6) from the Simplot Innate brand. This line has been modified for reduced acrylamide potential, reduced black spot bruising and resistance to blight.


Z6 is derived from a second generation line SPS-ØØV11 (V11), genetically modified using RNA interference (RNAi) to suppress the expression of four native potato genes to mediate a reduction in acrylamide potential and black spot bruising. No new proteins are expressed. V11 is similar to lines E12, F10 and J3 assessed in Applications A1128 and A1139 respectively.


A second transformation was carried out on V11 to produce Z6. The aim of this second transformation was to: (i) reduce sucrose hydrolysis leading to less reducing sugars thus further decreasing the acrylamide potential of the potato; and (ii) protect the plant from infection by the same late blight fungus (Phytophthora infestans) that was responsible for the Great Potato Famine in Ireland in the 1840’s.


In order to further reduce the acrylamide potential of the potato, RNAi was used to target the gene for vacuolar invertase (VInv). The expressed invertase converts stored sucrose into glucose and fructose, particularly on the outer edge of the potatoes, which has been associated with darkening on the ends of French fries and crisps. The activity of this enzyme also increases with decreasing temperature, leading to an increase in reducing sugar formation at the cold temperatures normally used for storage of potatoes.


 


The gene added for protection against late blight is the late blight resistance gene (Rpi-vnt1) from the related potato species Solanum venturii. The resulting VNT1 resistance protein allows the plant to detect the presence of the infecting organism P. infestans, leading to the induction of the plant’s immune response and elimination of the fungus. This novel protein does not have a pesticidal mode of action.


The main objective of the application is to obtain food safety approval for trade purposes. The Applicant is not currently seeking permission to cultivate Z6 in Australia or New Zealand however processed products may enter the local food market through imports. 

Upload:
Date of authorization: 13/12/2020
Scope of authorization: Food
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.): BioTrack Product Database
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
No potential public health and safety concerns have been identified in the food safety assessment of lines V11 and Z6. On the basis of the data provided in the present application, and other available information, food derived from potato lines V11 and Z6 is considered to be as safe for human consumption as food derived from conventional potato varieties.
Upload:
Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment: A1199 – Food derived from Innate potato lines V11 & Z6
Upload:
Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Ministry for Primary Industries
Contact person name:
john vandenbeuken
Website:
Physical full address:
Pastoral House, 25 The Terrace, Wellington, 6012
Phone number:
0298942581
Fax number:
Country introduction:

New Zealand and Australia share a joint food regulation system for the composition of labelling of most foods. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is the regulatory agency responsible for the development of the joint food standards in Australia and New Zealand. The main office (approximately 120 staff) is located in Canberra (in the Australian Capital Territory) and the smaller New Zealand office (approximately 15 staff) is located in Wellington on the North Island.

Useful links
Relevant documents
Stacked events:

FSANZ does not: Separately assess food from stacked event lines where food from the GM parents has already been approved; Mandate notification of stacked events by developers; Notify the public of stacked event ‘approvals’; List food derived from stacked event lines in the Code, unless the stacked event line has been separately assessed as a single line e.g. Application A518: MXB-13 cotton (DAS-21023-5 x DAS-24236-5)

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) (http://www.foodstandards.gov.au)

United States of America
Name of product applicant: J.R. Simplot Company
Summary of application:

Developer: J.R. Simplot Company
5369 West Irving Street
Boise, ID 83706


Trait(s): Change in composition (lower levels of reducing sugars)
Blight resistance


Submission Date : Apr 4, 2019


Introduced Protein: VNT1 protein
(source): Solanum venturii


Inserted genes (gene fragments): Partial sequences of VInv gene
Solanum tuberosum var. Ranger Russet

Upload:
Date of authorization: 23/08/2021
Scope of authorization: Food and feed
Links to the information on the same product in other databases maintained by relevant international organizations, as appropriate. (We recommend providing links to only those databases to which your country has officially contributed.):
Summary of the safety assessment (food safety):
Please consult the FDA website links below.
Upload:
Where detection method protocols and appropriate reference material (non-viable, or in certain circumstances, viable) suitable for low-level situation may be obtained:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment: FDA's webpage regarding this variety
Upload:
Authorization expiration date (a blank field means there is no expiration date)
E-mail:
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Food and Drug Administration
Contact person name:
Jason Dietz
Website:
Physical full address:
5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park MD 20740
Phone number:
240-402-2282
Fax number:
Country introduction:

The United States is currently in the process of populating this database. The Food and Drug Administration regulates food and feed (food for humans and animals) from genetically engineered crops in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA regulates pesticides, including those that are plant incorporated protectants genetically engineered into food crops, to make sure that pesticide residues are safe for human and animal consumption and do not pose unreasonable risks of harm to human health or the environment. FDA In the Federal Register of May 29, 1992 (57 FR 22984), FDA published its "Statement of Policy: Foods Derived from New Plant Varieties" (the 1992 policy). The 1992 policy clarified the agency's interpretation of the application of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to human and animal foods derived from new plant varieties and provided guidance to industry on scientific and regulatory issues related to these foods. The 1992 policy applied to all foods derived from all new plant varieties, including varieties that are developed using genetic engineering (also known as recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) technology). In the 1992 policy, FDA recommended that developers consult with FDA about foods from genetically engineered plants under development and developers have routinely done so. In June 1996, FDA provided additional guidance to industry on procedures for these consultations (the consultation procedures). These procedures describe a process in which a developer who intends to commercialize food from a genetically engineered plant meets with the agency to identify and discuss relevant safety, nutritional, or other regulatory issues regarding the genetically engineered food and then submits to FDA a summary of its scientific and regulatory assessment of the food. FDA evaluates the submission and if FDA has questions about the summary provided, it requests clarification from the developer. At the conclusion of the consultation FDA responds to the developer by letter. The approach to the safety assessment of genetically engineered food recommended by FDA during consultations, including data and information evaluated, is consistent with that described in the Codex Alimentarius Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants. EPA The safe use of pesticidal substances is regulated by EPA. Food from a genetically engineered plant that is the subject of a consultation with FDA may contain an introduced pesticidal substance, also known as a plant-incorporated protectant (PIP), that is subject to food (food for humans and animals) safety and environmental review by EPA. PIPs are pesticidal substances produced by plants and the genetic material necessary for the plant to produce the substance. Both the PIP protein and its genetic material are regulated by EPA. When assessing the potential risks of PIPs, EPA requires studies examining numerous factors, such as risks to human health, non-target organisms and the environment, potential for gene flow, and insect resistance management plans, if needed. In regulating PIPs, decisions are based on scientific standards and input from academia, industry, other Federal agencies, and the public. Before the first PIP product was registered in 1995, EPA required that PIP products be thoroughly tested against human safety standards before they were used on human food and livestock feed crops. EPA scientists assessed a wide variety of potential effects associated with the use of PIPs, including toxicity, and allergenicity. These potential effects were evaluated in light of the public's potential exposures to these pesticides, taking into account all potential combined sources of the exposure (food, drinking water, etc.) to determine the likelihood that a person exposed at these levels would be predisposed to a health risk. Based on its reviews of the scientific studies and often peer reviews by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Scientific Advisory Panel, EPA determined that these genetically engineered PIP products, when used in accordance with approved label directions and use restrictions, would not pose unreasonable risk to human health and the environment during their time-limited registration.

Useful links
Relevant documents
Stacked events:

Stacked events that are each plant incorporated protectants, as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency, must be registered by the Envriornmental Protection Agency before they can be commercialized.  Food/feed safety asssessment of single events are generally sufficient to ensure the safety of food/feed from stacked events.   

Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:

Food and Drug Administration ([email protected]); Environmental Protection Agency