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Constructive exchange between VLOG and State Secretary for Agriculture Markus Schick

F.l.t.r.: Sönke Guttenberg, Alexander Hissting, State Secretary Prof Dr Dr Markus Schick, Bernhard Stoll

VLOG Board Member Bernhard Stoll, Managing Director Alexander Hissting and Sönke Guttenberg (Media and Public Relations) met with State Secretary Prof Dr Dr Markus Schick at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH) in Berlin for a detailed dialogue.

BMLEH aware of the importance of "Ohne Gentechnik"

"We are pleased that the Ministry of Agriculture is well aware of the importance of the 'Ohne Gentechnik' industry, which has an annual consumer turnover of over 17 billion euros. We took the opportunity to once again emphasise to State Secretary Schick what is necessary to maintain and further develop this success within the framework of the new EU regulations for so-called 'New Genetic Engineering' (NGT)," said VLOG Board Member Bernhard Stoll.

New genetic engineering regulations must continue to enable transparency

"We need rules that continue to enable complete transparency for consumers. To this end, all economic operators must know whether or not their raw materials and products contain any genetic engineering. This must also be guaranteed for New Genetic Engineering. Only in this way can manufacturers and retailers reliably guarantee their customers that their food is free of genetic engineering."

Detection methods necessary

VLOG Managing Director Alexander Hissting adds, "In order to verify the absence of genetic engineering, detection methods for all approved genetically modified plants remain indispensable. Ideally, manufacturers themselves should provide these methods, but at the very least they must provide all information on the respective genetic modifications so that appropriate detection methods can be developed."

The German government's position on the new EU genetic engineering regulations is currently being coordinated. At EU level, even after another round of trilogue negotiations between the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the European Commission on 14 October 2025, an agreement is still not in sight.

Seize the opportunity for a smart EU compromise proposal

"Our dialogue with State Secretary Schick has shown that the German government could break the deadlock in the EU consultations on new genetic engineering with a smart compromise proposal that also takes the interests of 'Ohne Gentechnik' and organic farming into account. It should seize this opportunity," said VLOG Managing Director Alexander Hissting.

VLOG grateful for constructive dialogue

VLOG has always had close ties with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture: The government-run "Ohne GenTechnik" seal was launched in 2009 by the then Minister Ilse Aigner (CSU), and VLOG, which was founded specifically for this purpose, was subsequently entrusted with awarding the seal. VLOG and the Ministry regularly exchange technical information.

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to continue this constructive exchange with the new leadership of the BMLEH and would like to thank State Secretary Schick," said VLOG Board Member Bernhard Stoll, who has been Managing Director of Raiffeisen Kraftfutterwerk Kehl since 1994 and is one of the pioneers of "Ohne Gentechnik" in Germany.

Executive Board: VLOG – Association for Food without Genetic Engineering