GMO-free Labeling in Practice

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Bartholomew Walton
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1 GMO-free Labeling in Practice ARGE Gentechnik-frei: Highlights of 16 Years Ohne Gentechnik hergestellt How the System Works Augsburg, Nov 25 th, 2013

2 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

3 More than 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

4 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

5 GMO-free how it developed April 1997 June 1997 Aug Sept May ,27 Mio. Austrians sign referendum against GMOs Foundation of ARGE Gentechnik-frei 1 st ship with GMO-free soya from Brazil (Handelshaus Pilstl) 1 st definition of GMO-free production standards developed by ARGE Gentechnik-frei 1 st version of standard in Austrian Codex Alimentarius st products with label on the market (organic products) April 2003 Sept April st conventional GMO-free products (free-range eggs) 1 st GMO-free milk (Tirolmilch; conventional) 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 New segments with the label: flour, bread & bakery products; also: first meat products (Fleischwaren Berger)

7 GMO-free how it developed April 1997 June 1997 Aug Sept May ,27 Mio. Austrians sign referendum against GMOs Foundation of ARGE Gentechnik-frei 1 st ship with GMO-free soya from Brazil (Handelshaus Pilstl) 1 st definition of GMO-free production standards developed by ARGE Gentechnik-frei 1 st version of standard in Austrian Codex Alimentarius st products with label on the market (organic products) April 2003 Sept April st conventional GMO-free products (free-range eggs) 1 st GMO-free milk (Tirolmilch; conventional) 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 New segments with the label: flour, bread & bakery products; also: first meat products (Fleischwaren Berger)

8 GMO-free how it developed Aug June 2010 Oct Presentation of label Without GMO in Germany; foundation of VLOG e.v. (Association Food Without GMO) Complete Austrian dairy production GMO-free Complete Austrian egg-production (fresh eggs) GMO-free Feb./March 2012 Major part of Austrian poultry (chicken, turkey) GMO-free March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 May 2012 mid-nov 2013 nationwide availability of GMO-free pork Foundation of Danube Soya Initiative 1 st certified GMO-free feed production at Fixkraft Futtermittel (before that: Feed suitable for production of GMO-free food ) Start of EU consultation process: Report about existing EUprograms on GMO-free labeling; incl. assessment of necessity for an EU-wide harmonization process 1 st 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

regular adjustments due to developments on the market First comprehensive labeling system in Europe (production standard / label / certification

10 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 products on the market (organic & conventional)

11 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

12 How the Platform Works Board (Retailers, producers, Organic farmers Ass.) Consultation & counseling Advisory Board (NGOs, science & experts, chambers & associations) Strategy, planning, project management Wahl Members & users of the label ARGE Gentechnik-frei Coordination Office Funding through members fee & licensing fee Consultation Information Lobbying PR & market communications Certification & consulting Certification bodies (currently 6 authorized certification bodies)

13 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,

14 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

15 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

16 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 Gentechnikfrei 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

17 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

18 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)

19 GMO-free Standard Mandatory certification by independent monitoring bodies Monitoring bodies need to be accredited according to EN 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

20 The Final Product

21 Growing Rapidly

22 Growing Rapidly

23 Growing Rapidly Poultry, pork, cold cuts... Soon to come: beef

24 Brand Awareness of Label 61%

25 Important for Purchasing Decision 67%

26 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

27 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

28 Thank you for your Patience!

GM-free labelling regime in Austria: background, status quo, visions

GM-free labelling regime in Austria: background, status quo, visions Dr. Dietmar Vybiral Austrian Federal Ministry of Health, Dep. II/B/15 How to maintain GMO-free agriculture in Europe, 16. 17. 04. 2015,