PRESS RELEASE
An alliance of European food retailers comprising REWE Group, Alnatura, Denree, dm-drogerie markt, EcorNaturaSì (Italy) and Odin (Netherlands) has joined a call from around 350 companies across the value chain, issuing a joint letter demanding improvements to the current draft regulation on NGTs.
Transparent labelling of genetically modified foods is essential for consumers, as well as for all stakeholders involved in the supply chain. As retailers, we therefore urge the Members of the European Parliament to enshrine this very reasonable demand in law.
Kerstin Erbe, Managing Director of dm Brands
Organic farming will continue to exclude the use of genetic engineering in the future. However, to ensure that all European consumers and farmers can decide for themselves whether to accept NGTs in their fields and in their food, the European Parliament must urgently tighten the rules: labelling right through to the end product and protection against patents are absolute minimum requirements.
Fausto Jori, EcorNaturaSì, Managing Director
The retail companies warn that the current compromise, negotiated between the EU institutions, undermines functioning and transparent food markets. Against this backdrop, the food retailers are calling on the members of the Environment Committee to return to the European Parliament’s original position. To adequately protect consumers and farmers, the Parliament had originally called for:
- mandatory labelling and traceability for all NGT products
- effective protection against patents on plants and seeds
We very much welcome the fact that our members in the retail sector are standing alongside European consumers, the overwhelming majority of whom want labelling of NGTs as well. We now hope that the European Parliament will also act in the interests of consumers.
Ute Rönnebeck, Board Member of Demeter e.V.
For further information, contact Clara.
