Biotech Updates

Results of GM Food Surveillance in Germany Released

September 4, 2009

The federal states of Germany have released the results of the annual screening of food products for the presence of GMO materials. Results suggest that regulations on the labeling of GMOs are largely observed in the country. GMO Compass reports that slight traces of GM soybeans were frequently found by inspectors in products containing soy, whereas those derived from maize were mostly "GMO free." In the state of Baden-Württemberg for instance, 33 percent of soy products inspected (57 of 172) were found to contain traces of GM soy. This is significantly lower compared to last year's 39 percent. The detected values remained below the threshold value (0.9 percent) and often approximated the detection level of 0.1 percent.

Germany's Agriculture Minister Ilse Agner recently introduced a new "GMO-Free" logo that will be used in the country. The minister, earlier this year, banned the cultivation of the insect resistant, genetically modified maize MON810 in the country. The maize is the only GM variety allowed for cultivation in the European Union.

The original story is available at http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/news/463.docu.html