EFFECTS OF THE REGULATION (EC) No 1829/2003 and 1830/2003 ON THE FOOD INDUSTRY IN GERMANY

This survey assesses the effects of Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 and 1830/2003 on the food industry in Germany. According to this study 89.5 % of the food producers in Germany are affected of Regulations (EC) 1829/2003 and 1830/2003 and no food producer in Germany processes GMOs which would require labelling. Furthermore, the food industry in Germany developed quality management systems to exclude GMOs from production which would require labelling. The most used measure which 82.4 % of the food producer mentioned to comply legal requirements and to prevent GMOs in production processes is the demand of a written affirmation of GM-free status from suppliers. The second most used measure, which 77.1 % of the food producer mentioned, are enquiries back to supplier about GM-status of raw materials. Arising costs of Regulations (EC) No 1829/2003 and 1830/2003 mainly result from higher costs of GMO free raw materials (mentioned by 13.7 % of the food producers), costs for analytical testing of GMO contents in raw materials (mentioned by 27.7 % of the food producers) and additional personal costs (mentioned by 33.0 % of the food producers)