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!