VLOG Newsletter April 2022: VLOG - Verband Lebensmittel ohne Gentechnik e.V.

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VLOG Newsletter 02/22 .:. April

Dear readers,

The war in Ukraine is having an impact on all areas of the feed and food industry, including ours. In most cases, this means in part extreme price increases with fundamental availability. This also applies to feed, both GMO-free and labelled. This is a topic that occupies us intensively.

At the same time, the debate on the regulation of genetic engineering in the EU is entering the next round. What matters now is what feedback companies and the German government give the EU Commission on its plans to soften the rules so that genetic engineering would often no longer be recognizable.

Consumers do not like hidden genetic engineering at all, as a new VLOG survey on eggs conducted shortly before Easter shows.

Enjoy reading and have relaxing holidays
Your VLOG team

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.

Get involved in the EU's GMO legislation!

Businesses and other stakeholders from the "Ohne Gentechnik" ("Non-GMO") sector can - and should - participate in the EU Commission's Impact Assessment as part of the ongoing genetic engineering legislative process, which is expected to start in the next few days. It is important to make clear to the EU Commission, from a business perspective, what negative consequences genetic engineering deregulation would have. You can find out more about the importance and opportunities for participation here.

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.

GMO-free feed sufficiently available despite Ukraine war

The war in Ukraine is bringing material flows and supply chains to a stumble or even to a standstill. GMO-free feed ingredients are also imported from Ukraine and Russia, but sufficient quantities of rapeseed and soybean meal are currently available. The "Ohne Gentechnik" [Non-GMO] sector is in close internal communication and is preparing for possible future shortages.

Despite deceptive statements: "Ohne Gentechnik" production secure

The German Raiffeisen Association (DRV) and the German Feed Association (DVT) try to conjure up a collapse of "Ohne Gentechnik" (Non-GMO) production. The "maintenance of the supply of the wide market with GMO-free material" is "not realistic in the long run", the associations claim, apparently misleading deliberately.

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.

New animated VLOG explanatory videos

In "Simple Show" explanatory videos, we present complex VLOG-specific topics in a short and entertaining way. Our two new videos treat the topics "Preparation of a VLOG audit at the logistics stage" and "The group organisation agriculture". The newly created "Checklist for the preparation of a VLOG audit at the logistics stage" can now be found in the download area of the VLOG Standard, at "Further Documents/Instructions/Tools".

URGENT info for ALL group organizers: Transmission of the member list and analysis results

According to the valid VLOG Standard, ALL group organizers must submit the current reduced list of members (Appendix 23a or 23b for laying hens) of the calendar year 2021 (see F3.1) and the complete evaluation of the analysis results according to Appendix 23d (see F3.5). If necessary, please complete urgently by 15 April 2022!

New "Ohne GenTechnik" seal users

- Betrieb Dieter Schulte-Bunert

- Wipasz SA

- Bäuerliche Erzeugergemeinschaft Schwäbisch Hall Wurst- und Schinkenmanufaktur GmbH

New "VLOG geprüft" seal users

- Phibro Animal Health S.A.

- Vechteland Agrarhandel GmbH

- Tentego BV

- Miavit GmbH

Verband Lebensmittel ohne Gentechnik (VLOG)
Association Food without Genetic Engineering

Friedrichstrasse 153a
10117 Berlin
Germany

Tel.: +49 (0)30 2359 945 00
Fax.: +49 (0)30 2359 945 00

www.ohnegentechnik.org
info@ohnegentechnik.org