Berlin, Germany
February 1, 2008
Source:
GMO Compass
The German
Parliament, the Bundestag, has adopted a new set of rules for
the labelling of "GMO free" animal products and the cultivation
of genetically modified maize. Food from animals like meat, milk
and eggs can be labelled as "without gene technology" ("ohne
Gentechnik") as long as their feed contained no genetically
modified plants. They may well have been fed with additives like
vitamins, enzymes or amino acids that were produced with
genetically modified organisms, if alternative additives that
have not come into contact with genetic engineering are not on
the market. The label "without gene technology" can be used on a
voluntary basis. The Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and
Consumer Protection, Horst Seehofer, affirmed his call for a
revision of the EU authorisation procedure for biotechnology
products. Seehofer called for an exclusively scientific approval
process without the chance of any politically influenced
decisions. He named the EU drug approval process as a role
model.
To protect
conventional and organic maize from cross-pollination, the
Bundestag introduced a minimum distance of 150 meters between GM
maize and conventional maize fields, and 300 meters between GM
maize and organic maize fields. Farmers who want to cultivate
genetically engineered maize must advise their neighbours in
writing three months before the intended sowing. They can
mutually agree to stay below the minimum distance. Any such
agreement has to be reported towards the competent federal
authority and will be recorded in the nationwide site register.
According to the public register, around 250 German farmers
currently plan to seed more than 3.600 hectares of genetically
modified maize in 2008.
The German
Farmers Association (DBV) and the food industry disqualified the
new labelling rules and called them a deceptive package. By
contrast, consumer and environmental groups applauded the GMO
free labelling as a step to offer consumers the freedom of
choice between genetically modified and other animal products.
On the other hand, they criticized the rules for a good
agricultural practice as too slack. The upper house, the
Bundesrat, will decide on the amendments in its next meeting on
the 15th of February. It cannot block the law, but it can ask
for a conciliation procedure. Ultimately, the Bundestag can
override any objection by the Bundesrat.
Further information:
|
|
