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EU Member States position themselves regarding Hungarian NGT paper

The statements of 15 EU Member States in an informal enquiry by the Hungarian Council Presidency on the unresolved issues relating to the deregulation of new genetic engineering techniques (NGT) have been published. The NGT supporters insist on the tried arguments, while the opponents of deregulation introduce new aspects. One country unexpectedly changes its position.

GMO-free milk accounts for over 75 percent of total German milk volume

Well over three-quarters of milk in 2023 was produced in Germany without genetic engineering, 72.1 percent conventionally and 4.5 percent under organic farming criteria. Many dairies, including the Berchtesgadener Land dairy, help ensuring that GMO-free milk is available at a consistently high level.

Campaign for GMO-free food

From 13 September to 13 October 2024, an alliance of associations and initiatives is promoting a campaign for a GMO-free agriculture and food industry. Numerous events will draw attention to the threats posed to food production without genetic engineering by the deregulation of EU genetic engineering legislation. 19 September marks "GMO-free food day".

European enterprises call for rigorous labelling of NGTs

Dr István Nagy, current EU Council President for Agriculture and Fisheries, met today with representatives of a business initiative to submit an Open Letter “Food Industry for Freedom of Choice”. 376 businesses from the food industry in 16 EU Member States have signed the letter. Among them are renowned industry giants as the REWE Group, the third largest food retailer in the EU, the leading retailer in Austria, SPAR Austria, Europe's largest drugstore chain, dm-drogerie markt and the world's largest organic supermarket chain Biocoop.

Greenpeace supermarket check: "Ohne GenTechnik" seal creates transparency

Greenpeace has regularly surveyed the major grocery chains on their meat ranges since 2020, and on dairy products since 2022. Greenpeace is dissatisfied with the development in the food retail sector regarding the labelling of farming methods. In contrast, the environmental organisation believes that GMO labelling is very well covered by the "Ohne GenTechnik" (Non-GMO) seal. VLOG has asked the food retailers about new genetic engineering.

International conference on the future of the Non-GMO industry

The most important European industry associations of the "Non-GMO" sector will be hosting the "International Non-GMO Summit 2024" in Frankfurt am Main in Germany on 8 October 2024. International experts from politics, business and science will provide information on current important topics and trends in the "Non-GMO" markets worldwide. The focus will be on the ongoing political debate surrounding new genetic engineering and its potential impact on the "Non-GMO" and organic sectors.

Market research: "Ohne GenTechnik" seal scores highly in seal check

In his presentation at the VLOG Forum on the current state of market research into food seals, Dr Holger Buxel gave the "Ohne GenTechnik" seal consistently good marks. You can find a summary of the results and a video of the entire presentation in our press release.

Feasibility study: Detection methods for new genetic engineering are realistic

The research project on "Detection and identification methods for genome-edited plants", which has been funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) since January 2021, presented interesting results in July this year. According to these results, the detection of NGT plants is possible and reliable tests can be developed for this purpose.

Detection methods for new genetic engineering: DARWIN Project presented at the VLOG Forum

The EU-funded international research project DARWIN is developing innovative detection methods for the traceability and transparency of products from new genetic engineering. First-hand information was provided at the VLOG Forum in Berlin.

Hungary opens the debate on genetic engineering deregulation

The first EU Council working group on the regulation of new genomic technologies (NGT) under the Hungarian Council Presidency will meet on 19 July 2024. In this discussion paper, Hungary raises fundamental questions about the EU Commission's draft legislation. Member States call for far-reaching changes.

DARWIN Project: Giessen University researches consumer behaviour regarding new genetic engineering

Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) is part of the EU research project DARWIN and is looking into questions of acceptance, transparency, knowledge transfer and communication on the subject of new genetic engineering.

Originator of the "Ohne GenTechnik" seal Ilse Aigner: "Let's dare to be more transparent"

Alexander Hissting, Managing Director of the German Association for Food without Genetic Engineering (VLOG), has two words of thanks for former Federal Minister of Agriculture Ilse Aigner: "First for creating the standardised 'Ohne GenTechnik' (Non-GMO) seal, and, second, for her warm words on the seal's anniversary. With the 'Ohne GenTechnik' seal 15 years ago, Ms Aigner had a brilliant instinct for the needs of the food industry and consumers for transparency and freedom of choice when it comes to genetic engineering in food."

"Ohne GenTechnik" anniversary: The success story goes on

To mark the 15th anniversary of the "Ohne GenTechnik" (Non-GMO) seal, more than 100 participants from the food and feed industry, politics, research, associations and the media met in Berlin on 20 June 2024 for the VLOG .:. Forum conference and an evening reception. Participants shared facts and debated the achievements, developments, challenges and opportunities of the "Ohne Gentechnik" sector.

EU Commission's genetic engineering plans postponed: Breathing space for "Ohne Gentechnik" and organic farming

The attempt by the Belgian EU Council Presidency to take the genetic engineering deregulation plans a decisive step further at the last minute by reaching an agreement between the Member States has failed. The topic was removed from the agenda at short notice on 26 June 2024 in Brussels.

15 years of "Ohne GenTechnik": Entrepreneurs appeal to politics for freedom of choice

The leaders of German frozen food producer Frosta and the Berchtesgadener Land dairy have presented an open letter at a business conference to mark the 15th anniversary of the "Ohne GenTechnik" (Non-GMO) seal, in which they call on Cem Özdemir and all other EU agriculture ministers to support the labelling and traceability of all products produced using new genetic engineering techniques.

ADM wants to crush more GMO-free soy from German cultivation

In Germany, soy is still a niche crop, although demand is growing and the potential for cultivation is there. A large animal feed manufacturer has reacted, expanded its production capacities and is actively looking for new soybean farmers.

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