Post on 24-Sep-2020
ARGE Gentechnik-frei: Highlights of 16 Years „Ohne Gentechnik hergestellt“ How the System Works
Augsburg, Nov 25th, 2013
GMO-free Labeling in Practice
GMO-free Labelling in Practice
1. Looking back – how the system & the platform developed in Austria
2. Structure and tasks of the labeling platform
3. Preconditions for the success of the system in Austria
4. Prerequisites for labeling:
The production standard Certification How to label
5. Major current challenges
6. GMO-free – European perspective
• More than 2.200 products • Leading brands and food producers
• More than 90 % of Austrian retailers • Label has a high credibility with consumers
• Model for other European labelling systems
Three Crucial Pillars
1. Wide socio-political consensus in Austria on the rejection of GMOs in food & agriculture and on the need to provide a choice to consumers
2. Comprehensive standard: for production and monitoring embedded in the Austrian Codex Alimentarius
all relevant players & institutions involved in development and adaptations
comparable to requirements for organic production (standard + monitoring)
1. ARGE Gentechnik-frei – central & pro-active platform for the system allocation of the label
development & adaptation of guidelines & standard; but also:
stakeholder relations – national & international
marketing of label
GMO-free – how it developed
April 1997 1,27 Mio. Austrians sign referendum against GMOs
June 1997 Foundation of ARGE Gentechnik-frei
Aug. 1997 1st ship with GMO-free soya from Brazil (Handelshaus Pilstl)
Sept. 1997 1st definition of GMO-free production standards developed by ARGE Gentechnik-frei
May 1998 1st version of standard in Austrian Codex Alimentarius
1998 1st products with label on the market (organic products)
April 2003 1st conventional GMO-free products (free-range eggs)
Sept. 2003 1st GMO-free milk (Tirolmilch; conventional)
April 2004 EU Regulation 1829/2003 for labeling of GMO food
2005/06 Breakthrough in the dairy market: NÖM (Austria‘s # 2) to label all milk; other dairy producers follow quickly
2007-09 New segments with the label: flour, bread & bakery products; also: first meat products (Fleischwaren Berger)
GMO-free – how it developed
April 1997 1,27 Mio. Austrians sign referendum against GMOs
June 1997 Foundation of ARGE Gentechnik-frei
Aug. 1997 1st ship with GMO-free soya from Brazil (Handelshaus Pilstl)
Sept. 1997 1st definition of GMO-free production standards developed by ARGE Gentechnik-frei
May 1998 1st version of standard in Austrian Codex Alimentarius
1998 1st products with label on the market (organic products)
April 2003 1st conventional GMO-free products (free-range eggs)
Sept. 2003 1st GMO-free milk (Tirolmilch; conventional)
April 2004 EU Regulation 1829/2003 for labeling of GMO food
2005/06 Breakthrough in the dairy market: NÖM (Austria‘s # 2) to label all milk; other dairy producers follow quickly
2007-09 New segments with the label: flour, bread & bakery products; also: first meat products (Fleischwaren Berger)
GMO-free – how it developed
Aug. 2009 Presentation of label „Without GMO“ in Germany; foundation of VLOG e.V. (Association Food Without GMO)
June 2010 Complete Austrian dairy production GMO-free
Oct. 2010 Complete Austrian egg-production (fresh eggs) GMO-free
Feb./March 2012 Major part of Austrian poultry (chicken, turkey) GMO-free
March 2012 nationwide availability of GMO-free pork
April 2012 Foundation of Danube Soya Initiative
May 2012 1st certified GMO-free feed production at Fixkraft Futtermittel (before that: „Feed suitable for production of GMO-free food“)
May 2012 Start of EU consultation process: „ Report about existing EU- programs on GMO-free labeling; incl. assessment of necessity for an EU-wide harmonization process“
mid-Nov 2013 1st eggs on the market: GMO-free and Danube Soya
„Breaking the Ice“
Innovative: first & unique labeling project in Europe no comparisons & cooperations possible
Already 1998: first definition of production and certification standards for GMO-free food in Europe; defined in Codex Alimentarius provides legal basis & security for producers needs regular adjustments due to developments on
the market
First comprehensive labeling system in Europe (production standard / label / certification system)
Model for other national regulations in Europe (e.g. Germany, Southern Tyrol, LUX, SLO)
More than 2.200 products on the market (organic & conventional)
Role & function of the labeling platform
Driving force with developing, enabling, implementation and monitoring of GMO-free labeling in Austria
Integrative role: enabling and managing a close, intensive and very constructive cooperation & discourse between: retailers food & feed producers
organic farming associations NGOs & institutions
monitoring bodies politics & relevant authorities
Pro-active support of companies & brands in food & feed production
Market oriented: ensure freedom of choice for consumers - establish clear framework and legal security for producers
find & develop the right balance between: sensible for the environment & feasible on the market
How the Platform Works
ARGE Gentechnik-frei
Coordination Office
Advisory Board (NGOs, science & experts,
chambers & associations)
Board (Retailers, producers,
Organic farmers Ass.)
Members & users of the label
Certification bodies
(currently 6 authorized certification
bodies)
Wahl
Consultation & counseling
Certification & consulting
Funding through members fee & licensing fee Consultation Information Lobbying PR & market communications
Strategy, planning, project management
Members
Retailers Hofer Rewe Spar Zielpunkt Lidl
Organisations Bio Austria Greenpeace Global 2000 Environmental Protection Agency Agricultural Chamber Worker‘s Chamber Feed Producers Association Fairtrade Austrian Soya Association Donau Soja VLOG e.V. ProTerra
More than 150 food producers Nearly all dairy producers
Nearly all egg producers
Producers of egg-products
Poultry: Wech, Titz, Huber‘s
Meat: Fleischwaren Berger, Styria Beef, SB Frischfleisch, Iboschwein, Steirerfleisch, Hütthaler, ...
Major Austrian brands, such as: Rupp, Iglo Austria, Spitz, Bonduelle, Agrana
Soya producers: Sojarei, Joya
Traders: Handeshaus Pilstl
Mills: Haberfellner Mühle, Vonwiller – Erste Wr. Walzmühle, Vorarlberger Mühlen
Feed producers: Fixkraft Futtermittel, Lugitsch, …
Tasks & Role of the Platform
Know-how transfer and support for producers with: implementation consumers information & marketing
Lobbying:
Further development of standard according to experiences in practice
Ensure (political) support for GMO-free farmers and food producers
Authorization and harmonization of monitoring bodies
Safeguarding of uniform and consistant certification
Liaison with other certification systems (e.g. organic, AMA) to enable best use of synergies; esp. with monitoring
Information & communication with stakeholders, politics & administration and media
Marketing and communication of the label – information about background & framework of the labeling system – secure transparency for the system
International dialogue
Work towards European harmonization
Preconditions for the Success of the System in Austria
Full integration of all relevant players & stakeholders into the platform
Strong support from retailers – from the very beginning
Strong support in public opinion, media & relevant stakeholders
Pro-active pioneers in several market segments
Consistent and comprehensive system from the very beginning (production standard – label – certification standard – monitoring)
Pragmatic development of standard – adjustments in reaction to experiences in practice
Prerequisites for Labelling
Fulfill all specifications of Codex Alimentarius („Richtlinie zur Definition der ‚Gentechnikfreien Produktion‘ von Lebensmitteln und deren Kennzeichnung“) and / or EU Regulation on Organic Production (EU Regulation 834/2007)
License agreement with ARGE Gentechnik-frei
Fulfill specifications of the certification system of ARGE Gentechnik-frei and of the certification handbook of the Ministery of Economy (L25 = Handbook for risk-based certification of GMO-free production)
Monitoring agreement with one of the authorized certification bodies
Membership with ARGE Gentechnik-frei (membership fee = licensing fee for the use of the label)
Formal approval of use of label by ARGE Gentechnik-frei (after obtaining GMO-free certificate by a certification body)
Annual renewal of certification
GMO-free Standard
Defined in Austrian Codex Alimentarius:
Food, feed and additives: are neither GMO nor GMO derivatives
don‘t contain GMOs or GMO derivatives
For food and ingredients of food production: have not been produced with the aid of GMOs or GMO derivatives
Clearly defined transition periods for feeding of animals: Cattle for meat production: 12 months
Pork: complete fattening period
Animals for milk production: 2 weeks
Poultry for egg production: 6 weeks
Animals of aquaculture: complete fattening period
GMO-free Standard
Defined in Austrian Codex Alimentarius:
Clearly defined form of labeling – for food as well as for feed Requirement to refer to the relevant regulation of GMO-free
production on the label
Name of monitoring body on the label
Feed: „Feed suitable for GMO-free food production“
Free choice of wording – however: in practice, label of ARGE Gentechnik-frei is the only label on the market
Full specifications of Codex Alimentarius need to be fulfilled for every form of labeling no labeling of partial production, such as: „Produced from
GMO-free milk“ with yoghurts only allowed in list of additives)
GMO-free Standard
Mandatory certification by independent monitoring bodies
Monitoring bodies need to be accredited according to EN 45011
Mandatory certification throughout the complete value chain
Parallel to organic production: Certification / monitoring of complete flow of commodities; supported by analytical monitoring of samples
Uniform standards of certification, regulated by guideline of Ministry of Economy
Risk based certification process
Initial classification of risk by monitoring body
100% monitoring / certification at start of labeling
Subsequent frequency of certification: according to risk level
Name of monitoring body on the label
The Final Product
Growing Rapidly
Growing Rapidly
Growing Rapidly
Poultry, pork, cold cuts... Soon to come: beef
Brand Awareness of Label
61%
Important for Purchasing Decision
67%
Major Current Challenges
Continuous challenge: Securing long-term availability of all relevant raw materials, substances and additives
Soya!
Additives, such as Vitamin B2 and others
Increase synergies, especially with certification and monitoring processes in order to reduce costs for producers & farmers
Enable & support the conversion towards GMO-free feed with pork & beef production (currently under way in Austria)
Increased information & communication to consumers
GMO-free: Needs a European Perspective!!
Currently: GMO-free regulations exist in an increasing number of EU member states:
Austria, Germany, France, Southern Tyrol, Luxemburg, Slovenia
Also: Switzerland
Strong interest in many CEE-countries (triggered by Danube Soya)
Clear need for pan-European harmonization! Currently under way: EU-wide consultation process & „Report about
existing EU-programs on GMO-free labeling; incl. assessment of necessity for an EU-wide harmonization process“
Need for close cooperation between existing systems & systems to be developed
In process of founding: Euro GMO-free = European Association for the Production of GMO-free Food
Thank you for your Patience!