News archive

420,000 signatures for the preservation of food without genetic engineering

In front of the Federal Chancellery, exactly 420,757 signatures under the petition "Not behind our backs - no free pass for new genetic engineering in our food!" were handed over to Parliamentary State Secretary Bettina Hoffmann of the Federal Environment Ministry.

The organic sector’s appeal: Preserve EU genetic engineering regulations!

The German organic associations, together with their umbrella organisation Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft (BÖLW – Organic Food Industry Federation), have again jointly opposed the EU Commission's plans to soften the EU's genetic engineering rules in a resolution.

Lower Saxony: New government coalition for freedom from genetic engineering

The new “Red-Green” government of German state Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) has committed itself to freedom from genetic engineering in its coalition agreement. This is a good signal from this agricultural state.

Ethics Committee: Genetic engineering holds little promise against climate crisis

The Swiss Ethics Committee on Biotechnology (ECNH) considers the possibilities of new genetic engineering such as CRISPR to contribute quickly to climate adaptation in agriculture overrated and warns against betting on them.

Foodwatch campaign: Genetic engineering must remain identifiable!

In a new online campaign, the consumer organisation Foodwatch calls on the German Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir and the German Minister of the Environment Steffi Lemke to clearly rebuff the EU Commission's plans to deregulate new genetic engineering.

Will it be necessary to rerun the EU genetic engineering survey?

In an open letter, 40 European organisations strongly criticise the EU Commission's consultation procedure on new genetic engineering and demand for it to to be partly rerun.

Austrians want labelling and strict rules for new GMOs

94 percent of Austrian consumers want products containing new genetic engineering to continue to be labelled as "genetically modified". This was the result of a survey conducted by the Austrian Retail Association.

Participate NOW in EU consultation on new genetic engineering!

Until 22 July 2022, every individual and every business can participate in the EU consultation on the planned new genetic engineering regulation. Especially companies from the "Ohne Gentechnik" (Non-GMO) sector should definitely take advantage of this opportunity.

VLOG General Assembly and Symposium: Executive Board confirmed

On 6 July 2022, this year's VLOG General Assembly (GA) took place in Berlin. The incumbent Executive Board members were confirmed. In the afternoon, for the first time, there was also an "Ohne Gentechnik" (Non-GMO) Symposium, open also to the industry public.

Feed availability: VLOG rules for the exceptional case

Since the onset of the Ukraine war, the availability of non-GMO animal feed has also been an issue. By now, it has become clear that sufficient feed is available in the short and medium run. Nevertheless, in order to be prepared for all scenarios, VLOG has prepared a set of rules. Feedback from the authorities is still outstanding.

Significantly more non-GMO soybean cultivation in Brazil

Brazil plans to increase non-GMO soybean acreage by 24 percent for the 2022/23 crop to meet demand from Europe. That's another good sign for the availability of non-GMO feed.

New petition against dilution of GMO regulations

Numerous environmental, consumer and organic associations have launched a joint Europe-wide online petition against the weakening of EU rules on genetic engineering. In the current legislative process, the EU Commission has positioned itself clearly biased in favor of such deregulation.

Changeover: "VLOG verified" to become a certification mark

The "VLOG geprüft"/"VLOG verified" seal will be changed to the new brand category "Gewährleistungsmarke" ["certification mark"] for independent standard issuers, just like the "Ohne GenTechnik" [Non GMO] seal. All "VLOG verified" licensees will be asked to sign a new license agreement for this purpose. They have already been informed directly.

Change on the Board of VLOG

Karin Voss from the Edeka head office has stepped down from the Board of the German Association for Food without Genetic Engineering (VLOG). Her successor is Juliane Falzmann, PhD, from the Rewe Group.

Detection method for new genetic engineering plants soon operational

Plants produced using new genetic engineering methods can be detected - contrary to what genetic engineering proponents have long claimed. Authorities are now also working intensively on such detection methods.

Clandestine genetic engineering in Easter eggs?

Eggs from hens that come from genetically modified breeding hens should be labelled accordingly. This is the opinion of 85 percent of respondents in a representative survey commissioned in Germany by VLOG shortly before Easter. 70 percent would not buy such GM eggs.

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