<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Toxicity and Allergenicity</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Corn line 3272 expresses two novel proteins &ndash; the enzymes AMY797E and PMI. AMY797E is expressed at relatively high levels in grain (838 &ndash;1627 &micro;g/g fresh weight or 1004&ndash;3365 &micro;g/g dry weight) and PMI is expressed at low levels (&lt;0.4&ndash; 0.8 &micro;g/g fresh weight or &lt;0.5&ndash; 1.8 &micro;g/g dry weight). Neither protein showed any evidence of toxicity in acute oral toxicity studies and also do not exhibit any amino acid sequence similarity with known protein toxins. Neither of the proteins is derived from sources known to be allergenic and both are rapidly digested in simulated digestion studies. AMY797E has no immunologically meaningful amino acid sequence similarity to known allergens. PMI was found to share a short sequence of amino acids (eight residues) with a known allergen, however further testing with human sera from allergic individuals did not demonstrate any cross-reactivity. Overall, the evidence indicates that AMY797E and PMI are non-toxic and have limited potential to be allergenic in humans.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Dietary Exposure</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Humans consume relatively little whole kernel or processed maize, compared to maize-based food ingredients. Maize is a raw material for the manufacture of starch, the majority of which is converted to a variety of sweetener and fermentation products, including high fructose syrup and ethanol. Maize oil is commercially processed from the germ. Given that the proposed use of this maize event is for the production of ethanol, is unlikely that the co-mingling of corn line 3272 with existing corn stocks will have any significant effect on population nutrition.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">As the alpha-amylase enzyme expressed in Event 3272 has the ability to reduce starch molecules into component dextrins and mono/disaccharides at high temperatures, its potential impact on glycemic index, should Event 3272 be used as human food, was evaluated. This evaluation concluded that the co-mingling of Event 3272 with existing corn stocks is unlikely to have any significant effect on population nutrition. It is possible the AMY797E alpha-amylase may be activated during the cooking or processing of products containing Event 3272, which could increase the glycemic index of the final food product. However, even if the final food&rsquo;s glycemic index was increased, the overall effect on the diet would be minimal, given that glycemic index is heavily influenced by other dietary factors.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Nutritional and Compositional Data</b></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Compositional analyses were carried out to establish the nutritional adequacy of grain and forage from Event 3272, in comparison to conventional control lines. The constituents measured in grain from this event were protein, fat, carbohydrate, ash, moisture, fibre, fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, secondary metabolites and anti-nutrients. In forage, the constituents measured were protein, carbohydrate, ash, moisture, fibre and minerals.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">No compositional differences of biological significance were observed between the Event 3272 grain and forage and its non-GM counterpart. Several minor differences in key nutrients and other constituents were noted however the levels observed represented very minor differences and were within the reference range from conventional varieties. It can be concluded that food and feed from amylase-modified corn line 3272 is equivalent in composition to that from other commercial corn varieties.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">A 42-day feeding study in broiler chickens supports this finding, with no evidence of biologically-significant differences in growth or feed conversion in chickens fed Event 3272 grain compared to near-isogenic control or commercially available maize lines.</p>
