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Gruene Biotechnologie Independent explanations: genetic engineering, plants and food Check a label

The packaging says "ohne Gentechnik", "GMO-free" or "produced from genetically modified soya" and you wonder what exactly that means? Paste the ingredient list and the claims from the packaging. We explain in plain words what the claims mean, which ingredients may come from plants with genetically modified varieties and where the law does not require labelling.

Check the text from the packaging

The text stays in your browser. It is not stored and not sent anywhere.

How GM labelling works

The EU has a clear rule: if a food contains genetically modified organisms or an ingredient was produced from them, this must be stated on the label. Typical wording is “genetically modified” or “produced from genetically modified soya”. This is laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003.

There is a threshold: adventitious or technically unavoidable traces of no more than 0.9 % per ingredient do not have to be labelled.

Where the law does not require labelling

Food of animal origin. Meat, milk and eggs from animals that were given genetically modified feed do not have to be labelled.

Production with microorganisms. Some additives, vitamins or enzymes are produced with the help of genetically modified microorganisms. This does not have to appear on the label either.

The claim “ohne Gentechnik” and the organic rules close exactly these gaps.

“Ohne Gentechnik” and organic

In Germany the claim “ohne Gentechnik” is regulated by law (§ 3a of the EC Genetic Engineering Implementation Act). It excludes ingredients from GM plants, including adventitious traces below 0.9 %. Substances produced with the help of genetically modified organisms are also excluded in principle. For food of animal origin, the animals must not have received GM feed requiring labelling for a set time before the food is obtained:

AnimalsPeriod without GM feed
Cattle and horses for meattwelve months, at least three quarters of their life
Small ruminantssix months
Pigsfour months
Milk-producing animalsthree months
Meat poultry housed before three days of ageten weeks
Laying henssix weeks

Organic food is governed by the EU organic regulation (EU) 2018/848. It prohibits genetically modified organisms and products produced from or by GMOs, also in animal feed.

Limits of the check

The check only evaluates the text you paste. It cannot verify whether the claims on the packaging are correct, and it does not recognise every spelling. It does not replace information from the manufacturer. You will find more on individual additives in our list of all E numbers.

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