VLOG Newsletter February 2021: VLOG - Verband Lebensmittel ohne Gentechnik e.V.

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VLOG Newsletter 01/21 .:. February

Dear readers,

2021 will be a decisive year: will we finally get a grip on Corona? What political changes will the German "super election year" bring? This will also have a decisive impact on future GMO in Germany and the EU - and thus also on Non GMO and "Ohne Gentechnik". In April, the EU Commission will present its study on the regulation of New GMO. This is likely to become the starting point for a debate on new or even de-regulation of "new" GMO.

It is good that ENGA, the new European umbrella organisation of the Non GMO industry has meanwhile started its business in Brussels. The detection method for "Gene Editing" Cibus canola presented by VLOG, among others, also plays an important role in the debate and is gaining more and more recognition. In 2021, governmental control authorities should finally also start to check imports for illegal "Gene Editing" plants. One thing is certain: this year will bring a lot of news.

Stay healthy!
Your VLOG team

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Our newsletter and the VLOG website are now also available in an English version. On the website you can switch at the top right (DE/EN). Feel free to subscribe to the English newsletter and spread the word, we can't just feed it to you ourselves!

BVL welcomes Cibus test: it's about the mutation, not its cause

At an expert meeting on detection methods for "New GMO" plants, representatives of the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) expressly welcomed the publication of the test for Cibus "Gene Editing" canola by VLOG, Greenpeace and others in September 2020. Such detection, they said, was about identifying the mutation, not its cause.

Expert panel in the Bundestag - New GMO: Use detection methods, ensure GMO free food and feed!

„New GMO" are also GMO, the European Court of Justice clarified in 2018. In order to ensure that no illegal GMO-plants enter our food and feed, it is necessary to use reliable detection methods. On the occasion of the expert discussion in the Bundestag, VLOG managing director Alexander Hissting called for the detection method presented almost half a year ago to finally be used in government genetic engineering controls. VLOG has already applied it, several laboratories already offer the Cibus test.

ENGA: European "Non GMO" umbrella organization launches

The new European umbrella organization of the "Non-GMO" sector ENGA (European Non-GMO Industry Association) has started its operations in Brussels. "Non-GMO" has become an important market factor in Europe with increasing demand. In Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland and Bosnia-Herzegovina, laws or industry agreements regulate "Non-GMO" labeling on a voluntary basis. There is still no uniform regulation. Instead, even a possible GMO deregulation threatens the successful sector. High time for a European lobby. Visit the ENGA website and subscribe to the newsletter!

Czech and German "Ohne Gentechnik" standards mutually recognized

After a year of intensive detailed work, the Czech feed association SKK and VLOG have reached an agreement on the mutual recognition of their "Ohne Gentechnik" standards. This is an important step for cross-border trade, for German and Czech producers - and also for consumers.

GMO topic at Green Week 2021

Due to the coronavirus, International Green Week (IGW) and its many accompanying events had to be cancelled as large on-site events in 2021: no people milling around between the animals and food stands, no receptions, no big demonstration. Yet agricultural policy was still widely discussed in various online events – and, of course, the topics included GMO.

Great Britain seeks to deregulate genetic engineering

While the UK was still a member of the EU, the British government supported agricultural genetic engineering to the extent possible. After the completion of Brexit, it is now free to restructure its genetic engineering laws. And apparently it’s not losing any time in doing so.

Reform of group certification agriculture

The project will also be continued in 2021 to further develop the existing system of group certification at the agricultural level. After the kick-off workshop in July 2020 in Fulda, several constructive online meetings of the working group have already taken place.

VLOG FAQ in new design

As part of our new website, we have also given our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) a technical makeover. Now no longer as a PDF, but as a clearly structured page with chapter navigation. Of course, you can still print it or save it as PDF (via print function). The latest updates can be found in the right column.

New "Ohne GenTechnik" seal users

Frisch E Center Obermeier Lohner GbR Oberschwäbische Geflügel GmbH Die Käsemanufaktur Allgäu GmbH Dolomites Milk Srl/GmbH AGRANA Stärke Landkäserei Holtsee GmbH G+G Convenience Produkte GmbH & Co. KG TirolPack GmbH

New "VLOG geprüft" seal users

HL Hamburger Leistungsfutter GmbH Landwirtschaftliche Service - GmbH Mittelholstein DENKAVIT France Sarl. HCS Herdenmanagement GmbH Traditem GmbH Feed Valid BV

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

Friedrichstraße 153a
D-10117 Berlin

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

www.ohnegentechnik.org
info@ohnegentechnik.org