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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.

EU conference: Stop the deregulation of genetic engineering!

The plans of the EU Commission to deregulate genetic engineering threaten consumers as well as the "Ohne Gentechnik" and organic farming sectors. The new German Traffic Light coalition government can make a decisive contribution to stop these plans. According to the Commission, all options are still open. A high-level conference is being held today in Brussels to discuss this topic.

“Traffic Light Coalition” agreement and assignment of ministries: Green Light for "Ohne Gentechnik"

The words "genetic engineering" do not appear in the new German “Traffic Light Coalition” agreement between the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens Party (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) and the Liberals (FDP). However, commitments to transparency, risk and detection research and the designated assignment of the agricultural, environmental and economic ministries are a good political omen for the "Ohne Gentechnik" [Non-GMO] sector.

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.

Anuga 2021: Retailers oppose genetic engineering deregulation plans

Other major European retailers have joined a joint resolution against the EU Commission's deregulation plans, under which many new GM products would no longer be recognizable as GM in the future. The future German government has a crucial role to play in defending the interests of consumers and the "Ohne Gentechnik" [Non-GMO] and organic industries in Brussels.

Anuga 2021: Great potential for "Ohne Gentechnik" pork and beef

"Ohne GenTechnik" [Non-GMO] has become the almost universal standard for dairy products within just a decade, accounting for a good three-quarters of the total. The majority of chickens, turkeys and other poultry in Germany are now also fed GMO-free, so that eggs and poultry meat are around two-thirds "Ohne Gentechnik". For beef and pork, the proportion has so far been significantly lower. But that is likely to change soon.

Food Trend "Clean Label" at Anuga 2021: Three quarters of milk in Germany produced without genetic engineering

More than three quarters of milk in Germany is now produced without genetic engineering, the share is 76 percent in total. Ten years ago, it was only five percent. The upcoming Anuga in Cologne, Germany, will put the spotlight on the boom in "Ohne Gentechnik" [Non-GMO] and other "clean labels" starting October 9, and VLOG will also be present at the central food trade fair.

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.

VLOG survey: „Bundestag“ parliamentary groups on the future of "Ohne Gentechnik"

For the "Ohne Gentechnik" sector, there are trend-setting political decisions to be made in the new legislative period. All parties represented in the German parliament [Bundestag] have expressed their views on the subject in their election programs. VLOG wanted to know more and therefore asked the vice chairmen of the parliamentary groups responsible for the topic, except for the AfD, seven specific questions.

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.

"Ohne Gentechnik" umbrella organisation ENGA grows

The new European umbrella organisation of the European "Ohne Gentechnik" [Non-GMO] sector ENGA (European Non-GMO Industry Association) has already gained seven new members since its foundation. Further companies and associations who care about transparency and freedom of choice in GMO-free matters and who want to exert direct influence in Brussels, where the decisive course of GMO policy is set, are welcome!

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