Labels “genetically modified” and “non-genetically modified”

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) must be approved and labeled accordingly under EU law. Exempt from the labeling requirement are food and feed products containing less than 0.1% GMOs. If it can be proven that a higher proportion is adventitious or technically unavoidable, a higher threshold of 0.9% applies. This proof can usually be provided for raw materials from certified sources. Consequently, food and feed products generally only need to be labeled if the contamination is adventitious or technically unavoidable. In contrast, food products that come from animals fed GM feed do not need to be labeled. This is where the "non-GMO" label comes into play. Such labeling is possible if the product does not contain any components of GM plants, if food does not contain any adventitious or technically unavoidable traces of GM components exceeding 0.1%, if it does not contain any additives, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids or flavorings produced by GM microorganisms, and if no GM feed or feed additives have been fed to animals over specified periods of time (4 months for pigs or 3 months for dairy cows). However, feed additives produced using GM microorganisms (e.g. amino acids) and veterinary medicines produced using genetic engineering are permitted. This also means that "without genetic engineering" does not mean GMO-free, even if this is commonly assumed.