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Özdemir does not want to vote in favour of GMO deregulation

Özdemir: Don't destroy a market worth billions

"I want everyone to be able to continue to decide for themselves to use products with or without genetic engineering. Anyone who wants to farm GMO-free, whether conventionally or organically, should also be able to do so in the future. To achieve this, we need rules for coexistence so that a functioning market worth billions is not destroyed," Cem Özdemir (Greens) said according to media reports. Previously, German Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (Liberals) had once again spoken out in favour of the deregulation plans.

Minister sides with consumers and the food industry

"It is good that Cem Özdemir is clearly in favour of coexistence, transparency and against the abolition of genetic engineering labelling. The minister is thus taking the side of consumers and the food industry. Even the much-vaunted 'science' is by no means united behind deregulation, as is often claimed," comments Alexander Hissting, Managing Director of the German Association for Food without Genetic Engineering (VLOG).

Even more pressure needed in Brussels against deregulation

"With this statement, Özdemir has also made it clear that in Germany the Ministry of Agriculture is in charge of genetic engineering - and not the Ministry of Research. As the responsible minister of one of the most important EU member states, he must also intensify German efforts in Brussels to ensure that there is no majority in favour of deregulation, not even with cosmetic changes."

Preliminary vote in the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 11 December 2023

On 11 December 2023, the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers will hold an initial preliminary vote on the EU Commission's plans to deregulate genetic engineering. There will then be further votes in the European Parliament and an exchange between the EU Commission, Parliament and Council of Ministers (trilogue) before a possible final decision is taken.

Cem Özdemir's statements indicate that Germany will abstain in this vote - because of its coalition partner, the FDP (Liberals), who is in favour of deregulation. In the complex EU voting procedure, however, this would initially have the same effect as a negative vote - although that would emit a stronger signal to other EU states that are still undecided.

Deutschlandfunk: Germany wants to reject European GMO regulation (German)

Germany does not want to vote in favour of new EU GMO regulation (German)

NOZ: Genetic engineering: Research Minister wants to erode regulations (German)