FSANZ has called for public comment on a submission by Bayer CropScience to approve foods derived from genetically modified cotton, mostly in the form of oil and linters.

The cotton line, GHB119, is protected against feeding damage by caterpillars by a modified gene from Bacillus thuringiensis, a soil bacterium, and is also tolerant to herbicide. Both the new genes have been previously assessed by FSANZ as safe, in other GM products.

Under FSANZ regulations, any final food containing the genetically modified DNA would need to be labelled as such.

The cotton itself would be grown in major cotton-producing countries, including Australia.