GM free: Ulrick & Short becomes first UK firm to gain 'Ohne Gentechnik' certification

Certification by German-government backed 'Ohne Gentechnik' labelling scheme will help British supplier Ulrick & Short to a competitive advantage in the GM-sensitive German market, says the firm.

The UK company, known for its range of clean label starches, proteins, fibres and flours, is the first UK-based firm to secure the Ohne Gentechnik certification - a German government-backed programme which advocates the labelling of non-genetically modified foods.

Earlier this year UK-based certification organisation Cert ID Europe was approved as the first UK certification body for Ohne Gentechnik, with Ulrick & Short now becoming the first UK company to be certified against the standard by Cert ID.

Certification will mean that food products produced using the Ulrick & Short's ingredients can be labelled ‘Ohne Gentechnik’ (without genetic engineering) in Germany and other surrounding areas that support the scheme.

While EU law already stipulates that food containing genetically modified materials at a level above the 0.9% threshold must be labelled as such, the 'Ohne Gentechnik' certification operates to a 0.1% threshold, said Jerry Houseago of Cert ID Europe.

Speaking to FoodNavigator about the certification, Houseago explained that there is a gap underneath the 0.9% threshold where products may or may not contain genetically modified materials.

"So if they certify to Ohne Gentechnik they are entitled to put the logo on the product, and that's saying that the product is made without genetically engineered materials to less than 0.1%," he explained.

Germany & GM

Ulrick & Short said the move will enable them to have a competitive edge in the German market, where consumers are sensitive over GM content in food and like to see GM free foods carry certification.

Indeed, Houseago noted that in Germany, many consumers wish to see the complete absence of GM technologies "as far as you can do it commercially."

Adrian Short, director at Ulrick & Short said the firm is delighted to achieve further recognition for on-going commitments to supplying only clean label, non-GM ingredients to food manufacturers across the world.

"Although genetic modification developments are in the news daily, we are confident that there will always be a demand for non-GM food ingredients such as ours, and this accreditation will doubtless give us further credibility in our European markets," he commented.