Australia Approves Commercial Release of GM Purple Tomato

Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has issued license DIR 218 to All Aussie Avocados Pty Ltd (trading as All Aussie Farmers), for the commercial release of a tomato genetically modified for purple fruit color. The GM Purple Tomato has been modified to produce natural purple/blue pigments, called anthocyanins, in the fruit as it ripens.

The GM Purple Tomato may be grown throughout Australia, subject to the restrictions in some Australian States and Territories for marketing reasons. The risk assessment conducted by the Regulator concluded that this release of GM Purple Tomato poses negligible risk to the health and safety of people or the environment.

Permission for the GM Purple Tomato and its products to be sold as food for human consumption in Australia requires a separate application to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). FSANZ also sets the requirements for GM food labelling in Australia. FSANZ has assessed the safety of the GM Purple Tomato and found that food derived from the GM Purple Tomato is as safe as food from conventional tomatoes already in the Australian and New Zealand food supply. In October 2025, FSANZ approved this GM Purple Tomato for sale as a food in Australia and New Zealand. The GM tomatoes and any derived food products are subject to mandatory GM labeling.

The finalized RARMP, a summary of the RARMP, the license, and Questions and Answers about this decision can be obtained online from the DIR 218 page of the OGTR website.