VLOG Newsletter February 2023: VLOG - Verband Lebensmittel ohne Gentechnik e.V.

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VLOG Newsletter 01/23 .:. February

Dear Readers,

even after one year, there is no end in sight to the war in Ukraine. The invaded country is performing amazingly. Production and export of agricultural commodities such as GMO-free feed also still work.

At our Non-GMO Summit in May, the crop-growing countries Ukraine and Brazil will be prominently represented alongside European stakeholders from the retail and processing sectors. Deforestation-free production will also be a topic there. VLOG is also already working on this.

At the start of 2023, the political debate on genetic engineering and GMO-free production has gained momentum. The EU Commission has now announced its proposal for new EU legislation on GMOs for 7 June.

A clear majority of citizens rejects the lowering of GMO standards. During the International Green Week food fair in Berlin, German Minister of Agriculture Özdemir addressed the issue in person for the first time. VLOG was also present and used the fair for talks with politicians.

We wish you a sunny beginning of spring!
Your VLOG team

Distinct majority opposes lowering of EU GMO standards

The EU Commission is planning to lower the standards for the approval and labelling of genetically modified plants and food. The German government should not support this, according to a distinct majority in a new VLOG survey.

"Ohne Gentechnik" at the International Green Week food fair 2023

The German Association for Food without Genetic Engineering (VLOG) has used this year’s International Green Week food fair in Berlin (IGW) to communicate the importance of "Ohne Gentechnik" (Non-GMO) business to politicians and to warn them against lowering EU standards. German Agriculture Minister Özdemir also took a stand on genetic engineering.

Youth associations: Secure GMO-free food production!

Several youth associations from the sectors of agriculture, food and environmental protection are speaking out against genetic engineering deregulation. For their generation, this is a particularly important concern.

Survey: "Ohne Gentechnik" important for meat substitutes

Meat substitutes are booming and also were in the spotlight at the International Green Week food fair 2023 in Berlin. According to a new study, absence of genetic engineering is at the top of the wish list.

Non-GMO Summit 2023: Book your tickets now!

Registration for the "International Non-GMO Summit 2023" on 9/10 May 2023 in Frankfurt is now open via the website. The focus is on the exchange with representatives along the soy supply chain - from cultivation in Brazil to the supermarket shelves in Germany. Deforestation-free and Non-GMO go hand in hand for the establishment of stable, fair and long-term value chains. Germany‘s Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir and the Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Ukraine will contribute welcoming words and video messages. There will be networking opportunities at the get-together the evening before. Book your ticket now!

New additional VLOG module "Deforestation-free" to come

The two sustainability criteria "Deforestation-free" and "Non GMO" go hand in hand. Therefore, VLOG is developing an optional additional standard module to verify the absence of deforestation of the soy ingredients used in feed. It builds on recognised international certification standards for soy cultivation, trade and processing as well as the proven VLOG system. The module will ensure deforestation-free production from soy cultivation to the supermarket shelves with segregated production chains. An exchange with the sectors affected will take place in the coming weeks. The module is to be applicable from 1 January 2024.

Possibilities to use the "VLOG geprüft" seal

The "VLOG geprüft" ("VLOG verified") seal for feed can be used in various contexts. Depending on the intended use, there are different requirements, which you can find out about on this new website page.

Application for Standard Usage via online form

The application for the use of the VLOG "Ohne Gentechnik" Production and Certification Standard is now quickly and easily possible via our VLOG website. With this, we would like to enable more reliable data transmission and faster processing of Standard Usage Agreements. To do this, fill out the online form on the VLOG website at "For companies > Applying for certification" and then send the completed contract document to VLOG.

Group organisers agriculture: Please submit data!

Please keep in mind: Group organisers are required to submit the following data to VLOG each year between 01 January and 31 March: 1) Current, reduced list of members (only data of the area marked with "Data transfer to VLOG") according to Annex (23a) or for laying hens Annex (23b). 2) since 2023: Stable space overview according Annex (23c) 3) Complete evaluation of the analysis results according to Annex (23d).

International Conference on GMO Analysis and New Genomic Techniques (BfR. BMEL et al.)
14 –16 March 2023, Berlin

International Non-GMO Summit 2023
Securing and Strengthening the Non-GMO Market
9–10 May 2023, Hilton Frankfurt Airport

New "Ohne GenTechnik" seal users

- Eifeler Landei GmbH
- Würzburger Milchwerke GmbH
- Vion Convenience GmbH
- Ferkelaufzucht Fromhagen KG
- Hof Spahr GmbH & Co. KG

New "VLOG geprüft" seal users

- Heforma GmbH
- Animal Attention GmbH
- SEFAB sprl
- Rottmann Group GmbH
- Raiffeisen-Südwestfalen eG
- AHV International BV
- Taumil Vermarktungs GmbH

New VLOG members

- Max Frischgeflügel und Spezialitäten 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