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Stable growth for "Ohne Gentechnik"

To a large extent, this can probably be explained by inflation-related price increases, but not exclusively. However, it is not possible to determine exactly how much growth beyond these effects has exceeded last year's forecast. The figures could look different as early as 2023.

"Ohne Gentechnik" still high in demand

"The delightful growth shows that 'Ohne Gentechnik' continues to be highly popular with consumers," comments VLOG Managing Director Alexander Hissting. "Even if interpretation in detail is difficult, the figures show in any case that 'Ohne Gentechnik' has developed very well even in the crisis year of 2022, despite all the prophecies of doom about allegedly unavailable feed, for example. It is not possible to put a concrete figure on how much of the growth is due to inflationary effects. It is clear, however, that even beyond that, the gain is greater than expected.

Above-average growth in eggs

At Easter, we are particularly pleased with the above-average growth in 'Ohne Gentechnik' eggs. In our third largest product group, we can report an increase in sales of nearly one fourth from 1.1 to almost 1.4 billion euros. According to industry estimates, about two thirds of the eggs in Germany are now produced without GMO chicken feed, which includes organic eggs that are also GMO-free.

No hidden genetic engineering in Easter eggs - preserve EU standards!

It is therefore all the more important to protect the successful 'Ohne Gentechnik' sector from the threatening downgrading of EU genetic engineering standards in order to be able to continue to assure reliable transparency for consumers. Hiding genetic engineering in Easter eggs in the future is a bad idea, this must also be obvious to the EU Commission".

Dairy products still account for the largest share

Totalling 11 billion euros (69 percent), milk and dairy products continued to account for the largest share of the almost 16 billion euros in consumer spending on "Ohne Gentechnik" products in 2022. Poultry products accounted for 3.1 billion euros (19 percent), eggs for 1.4 billion euros (9 percent) and other products for 0.5 billion euros (3 percent).

The figures are based on data provided by the licensees of the "Ohne GenTechnik" seal plus a flat trade margin and VAT. According to the forecasts of the current licensees, the "Ohne Gentechnik" turnover would increase by 0.6 percent in 2023. The forecasts were made in January and February 2023. However, with inflation and other market uncertainties continuing, the forecast is subject to significantly more uncertainty than in previous years.

The legal basis for the seal is the EC Genetic Engineering Implementation Act (EGGenTDurchfG). In 2009, the then German Federal Minister of Agriculture Ilse Aigner (CSU) had the uniform "Ohne GenTechnik" seal designed. In 2010, she transferred its licensing and monitoring exclusively to VLOG. The German Association for Food without Genetic Engineering (VLOG) e.V. represents about 760 food producers and retailer as well as the upstream and downstream sectors of food production. It issues licences for the use of the uniform "Ohne GenTechnik" seal for food produced without genetic engineering.