Consumers and food industry want labelling, says the German Association Food without Genetic Engineering (VLOG)

Responding to today's EU vote in favour of GMO deregulation, the German Association Food without Genetic Engineering (VLOG) said in a statement: "This is unlikely to be the hoped-for breakthrough, as there are still no regulations on labelling requirements and coexistence. The food industry and consumers will not accept this."
 
Alexander Hissting, managing director of the Verband Lebensmittel ohne Gentechnik (VLOG), commented: "What lasts a long time does not necessarily turn out well. It is disappointing that Poland has wasted the opportunity as EU Council Presidency to reach a sensible compromise on the controversial topic of ‘new genetic engineering’. The trilogue negotiations between the EU Commission, Parliament and Council of Ministers can now begin, but under the worst possible conditions.
 
"The EU Parliament must now at least push through its demand, adopted in 2024, for mandatory genetic engineering labelling right through to the end product. Consumers and the food industry will not accept deregulation without this minimum requirement. Other serious consequences for the economy are still completely unclear. The negotiating position of the member states is still far from the NGT [new genetic engineering techniques] deregulation. The Parliament cannot agree to it as it stands, and the position of individual member states may also change again."

VLOG noted that according to a recent survey by the German government, 94 per cent of adults in Germany want labelling for NGT foods. VLOG said, "Hundreds of European food companies, from REWE Group to dm and Alnatura, are calling for rules on transparency and coexistence in the case of NGTs."
 
VLOG added, "In January 2025, a new expert opinion by lawyer Dr Georg Buchholz highlighted further serious consequences and risks of the planned regulation of NGTs for the entire food sector. This report is currently the subject of intense debate in the industry. The EU Commission has not yet found an answer."