News archive

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.

CRISPR GM eggs without risk assessment and labelling?

According to internal communication, the EU Commission considers neither approval procedures nor genetic engineering labelling to be necessary for eggs and laying hens derived from genetically modified chickens. This would be tantamount to anticipatory deregulation.

Greenpeace pressures major retailers regarding new genetic engineering

In 2021, many European retailers have clearly spoken out against the deregulation of new genetic engineering in a joint resolution. Greenpeace has now inquired with those who have not yet signed.

EU MPs: Promote genetic engineering detection and risk research!

31 delegates from five political groups in the European Parliament have called on the EU Commission in an open letter to promote risk and detection research for new genetic engineering processes.

European Danube Soya booming

The production of GMO-free soybeans certified by Danube Soya and Europe Soya surged by an enormous 49 percent in 2021. This means that in 2021, 10 percent of the European soybean harvest already met the standard that is recognised also by VLOG.

Baden-Wuerttemberg: No more GMO contamination found in harvest monitoring

No GMO contaminants were found in the routine 2021 harvest monitoring in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. In the previous year, a detection in linseed had far-reaching consequences.

England: Genetic engineering deregulation for research only for now

The announced deregulation for certain new genetic engineering processes in England after Brexit is taking shape. Initially, it will apply "only" to research. For commercial cultivation and use in food and feed, approval procedures and labelling will remain in place.

High level of awareness and trust in "Ohne Gentechnik"

Almost all consumers are familiar with the "Ohne Gentechnik" (Non-GMO) label. Trust in the label is also high, according to a recent study it ranks 5th after the Organic, Vegan, Bioland and Demeter labels.

Tegut is first ENGA member from the food retail sector

The [German] Tegut supermarket chain is the first corporate member from the food retail sector in the new European "Ohne Gentechnik" association ENGA (European Non-GMO Industry Association). This further strengthens the voice of this important economic sector in Brussels.

More than 70,000 comments on EU’s GMO deregulation plans

More than 70,000 EU citizens, associations and organisations took the opportunity to comment publicly on the EU Commission's GMO deregulation plans. In this context, VLOG, among others, warned once again of the major economic risks of such deregulation for the “Ohne Gentechnik” [Non-GMO] sector.

Great Britain's roadmap for the deregulation of genetic engineering

The British government now wants to apply Brexit to genetic engineering regulations as well. Plants developed with new genetic engineering are soon to be exempted from regulations on genetic engineering. This is intended to strengthen the UK's role as one of the leading countries for genetic engineering research. British farmers and food exporters are facing hard times.

Switzerland extends moratorium - also for new genetic engineering

The Swiss National Council has voted to extend the moratorium on genetic engineering, which has been in place since 2005, until the end of 2025. The approval of this second chamber of parliament is considered certain. The moratorium now also explicitly applies to new genetic engineering methods. Motions to exempt these had been rejected by a large majority in the National Council.

"Climate eggs" through local soy feed

If egg laying hens are fed with local soy instead of imported soy from South America, the climate impact of their eggs shrinks by 41 percent. Soy cultivation in Europe has great potential and can be a component in securing GMO-free feeding, which is currently burdened by high prices for imported soy.

Authority apparently informed U.S. GMO manufacturer about VLOG "campaign"

The German Federal Agency of Consumer Protection and Food Safety [Deutsches Bundesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit – BVL], responsible, among other topics, for genetic engineering checks in food and feed, informed the U.S. GM seed company Cibus in April about an alleged "new campaign" by the Association Food without Genetic Engineering [Verband Lebensmittel ohne Gentechnik – VLOG], according to a report of German news magazine DER SPIEGEL.

All news

 

Contact person

Sönke Guttenberg

Head of Press and Public Relations

Friedrichstr. 153a
10117 Berlin
Germany

Tel: +49 30 2359 945 12
Fax: +49 30 2359 945 01
presse@ohnegentechnik.org