Biotech Updates

German Food Industry Calls for Stricter Labeling Laws

January 29, 2010

Representatives of the German Food Industry are demanding more comprehensive labeling of products with ingredients sourced from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In an interview by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, National Federation of the German Food Industry (BVE) CEO, Matthias Horst demanded "transparency." He said that if genetic engineering has been involved in the production of a product, then this must be stated on the product's label.

Gerhard Sonnleitner, president of the German Farmers' Association, also criticized current labeling regulations. He was quoted by GMO Compass as saying "It is misleading when the vitamins, enzymes and vaccines produced with genetic engineering that are used in animal husbandry do not need to be declared. All feed today contains traces of genetic engineering. Yet milk and meat derived from that is allowed to carry a GM-free stamp."

The original story is available at http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/news/484.docu.html