The existing German gene-tech law was meant to be remodeled last July during the discussion between the Coalition partners Christian Democrats and Social Democrats. The outcome represents "pretty much a status quo of the existing law with some marginal adjustments", the GAIN report stated. In summary, the report identified some agreement points as follows:

• The rules for the field register remain untouched.
• The distance requirement for biotech fields to conventional crops will be set at 150 meters.
• The distance of biotech fields to organic fields will be set at 300 meters.
• The German States have the option to implement stricter distance rules for biotech fields within neighboring nature reserve regions.  

Minister Seehofer defends the compromise as a balanced response to public concerns about biotechnology. In addition, he agreed to draft an amendment that would broaden the option that German food processors can label livestock products - stretching from milk, eggs, meat to processed products – as ‘without gene technology’ if the animals were not fed with biotech feeds, the report says. However, the use of feed additives and enzymes and medicine derived from biotechnology processes does not prevent putting the ‘without genetechnology’ label. The report said that Seehofer believes that "there is no need for growing biotech crops for food and feed purposes". He however supports breakthroughs of biotech crops for energy use.

The GAIN report can be accessed at:  http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200707/146291854.pdf.