Cablegate: New Zealand Position at Codex Ad Hoc Task Force
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000618
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/ANP/RICCI AND EB/BOBO
USDA FOR FAS/ITP/CLAUS AND MIRELES, FAS/BIG/WILLIAMS, AND
FAS/FAA/YOUNG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD TBIO EAGR ECON NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND POSITION AT CODEX AD HOC TASK FORCE
ON BIOTECHNOLOGOY
REF: SECSTATE 147159
1. Summary: New Zealand will participate in the fifth
Session of the Codex Ad-Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force
on Foods Derived from Biotechnology (Task Force) in
Chiba, Japan September 19-23, 2005. New Zealand will be
generally supportive of U.S. positions. New Zealand
agrees with the United States that the Task Force should
focus on the development of international science-based
guidance for foods derived from modern biotechnology that
is relevant to the health of consumers and the promotion
of fair practices in the food trade. New Zealand further
agrees with the United States that the work of the Task
Force should not include safety assessments of crops
developed as non-food products and that issues such as
labeling and the environment should be excluded from its
scope of work. New Zealand will place a priority on work
related to transgenic animals. It recognizes the
importance of the U.S. work proposals shared per reftel
and looks forward to considering U.S. priorities as well
as those submitted by other Codex members. End Summary
2. The New Zealand delegation to the Chiba meeting will
include Dr. Graeme King, Manager Innovation Policy,
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and Dr. Paul
Dansted, Principal Adviser (chemicals), New Zealand Food
Safety Authority.
3. New Zealand will propose work on transgenic animals
(including fish) as its only priority work area for the
Task Force. New Zealand finds acceptable the U.S.
suggestion that work proceeding in this area follow a
step-wise approach. This approach would be based on
available science and capability to develop an
appropriate international guidance text, with clear
decision points on proceeding with additional work. New
Zealand agrees with the U.S. view that work by the Task
Force on such a project should first identify elements of
the existing Guidelines that are relevant to food from
recombinant-DNA animals. This would be followed by the
identification of additional concepts that are relevant
to the safety assessment of foods derived from
recombinant-DNA animals, and any topics that might
require additional scientific input.
4. New Zealand seeks additional clarification on the
U.S. work proposal related to food safety issues specific
to staple food crops for developing countries. New
Zealand appreciates the importance of including in the
Task Force's work agenda issues of importance to
developing countries and requests information regarding
specific crops to be considered.
5. New Zealand recognizes the importance to the United
States of including work related to low-level presence in
food of plant material derived from recombinant-DNA
plants. It is, however, not a priority work area for New
Zealand. New Zealand anticipates receiving additional
documentation being prepared by the United States on its
proposal and will give it careful consideration.
6. New Zealand concurs with the U.S. assessment that the
consideration of work by the Task Force related to animal
clones is not appropriate. Work related to plants
expressing bioactive substances or nutritionally enhanced
plants is not a priority for New Zealand. New Zealand
generally supports U.S. views regarding this subject as
conveyed in reftel, but is willing to consider positions
and work priorities in this area promoted by other
countries. New Zealand generally agrees with the U.S.
position regarding work on plants with stacked genes, but
again will carefully consider positions of other
countries regarding this potential work area. New
Zealand shares the U.S. view that work proposals related
to biopharming/plants expressing pharmaceutical or other
non-food substances do not fall within the mandate of the
Task Force.
BURNETT