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If labelling requirements were abolished: Majority would pay attention to "Ohne Gentechnik" seal

- 58 percent of consumers in Germany would pay attention to a "Ohne Gentechnik" (Non-GMO) seal when shopping if genetically modified foods no longer had to be labelled in future. This was the result of a representative survey commissioned by VLOG.

If the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers actually confirm the disappointing outcome of the Brussels "Trilogue" negotiations on new genetic engineering (NGT) on 4 December 2025, the current legal requirement to label food and feed ingredients that contain genetically modified ingredients would be partially abolished.

A large proportion of plants produced using new genetic engineering (NGT) and products made from them (all so-called "NGT 1") would no longer have to be labelled accordingly and would no longer be recognisable to consumers when shopping.

This would create a new major "labelling gap" – in addition to the existing one that exists when genetically modified feed crops are used. The "Ohne GenTechnik" seal also excludes genetically modified feed, thereby creating greater transparency for consumers.

Our seal would also close a new labelling gap for NGT, as it excludes it in the same way as "old" genetic engineering. This could significantly increase the relevance of the seal for consumers and the food industry.

In June 2025, the polling institute Civey asked 5,000 adults on behalf of VLOG: "Would you pay attention to an 'Ohne Gentechnik' seal when shopping if genetically modified foods no longer had to be labelled in future?" Forty-five percent answered "Yes, definitely", 13 percent "Probably yes", 13 percent "Probably no", 18 percent "No, definitely not" and 11 percent were undecided.

Possible new EU regulations: Will GMO-free products soon be recognisable only by a seal?