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European Elections 2024: Voters of all German political parties in favour of comprehensive GMO labelling
This is the result of a recent representative survey commissioned by the German Association for Food without Genetic Engineering (VLOG). The statement "Food with genetically modified ingredients should always be labelled, regardless of whether it is produced using old or new genetic engineering" was endorsed by 84 percent of all respondents.
A total of 84 percent in favour of labelling - over 70 percent for every party
Broken down according to which party respondents intend to vote for in the upcoming European elections in 2024, the approval rates are 92 percent (SPD), 90 percent (Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance), 84 percent (Left Party), 83 percent (AfD), 82 percent (CDU-CSU), 77 percent (Greens) and 72 percent (liberal FDP). On behalf of VLOG, the Civey polling institute surveyed 5007 people aged 16 and over between 24 May and 30 May 2024.
CDU-CSU and FDP acting against the will of their own voters
"Voters across all party lines clearly want genetic engineering labelling for food, including for new genetic engineering. Even those who want to vote for the CDU-CSU or the liberal FDP in the European elections on Sunday are demanding with a large majority that not only ‘old’ but also new genetic engineering remain recognisable in food," comments VLOG Managing Director Alexander Hissting. "Contrary to these wishes of their supporters, however, the CDU-CSU and FDP have so far supported the EU Commission's proposal, according to which the vast majority of new genetically engineered foods would end up concealed from view on supermarket shelves in the future. CDU-CSU and FDP are acting against the will of their own voters when it comes to genetic engineering. The two parties should therefore reconsider their positions on genetic engineering."
The EU Commission wants to dilute the regulations for new genetic engineering in food and animal feed; among other things, it wants to abolish the current labelling requirement for almost all new genetically engineered plants. The CDU-CSU and FDP support this plan and have largely voted in favour of it in the "old" European Parliament.
Debate will continue in the new European Parliament
However, the EU Member States have not yet been able to agree on a common position. Germany and a number of other countries are calling for regulations regarding labelling and coexistence as well as opposing seed patenting, among other things. Therefore, the debate on genetic engineering will definitely keep the EU and the newly elected parliament busy for quite some time after the elections.
European Elections 2024: Who wants to preserve genetic engineering rules, who wants to abolish them?