Vienna, Sept 5th, 2012

1. ARGE Gentechnik-frei: Europe‘s First System for Labelling of GMO-free Food ProductsHow the System Works GMO-free Labellingin Practice Vienna, Sept 5th, 2012

2. GMO-free Labelling in Practice • Looking back – how the system & the platform developped in Austria • Structure and tasks of the labelling platform • Preconditions for the success of the system in Austria • Prerequisites for labelling • The production standard • Certification • How to label • Major current challenges • GMO-free – European perspectives

3. More than 1.900 products • Leadingbrandsandfoodproducers • More than 90 % of Austrian retailers • Label has a high credibilitywithconsumers • Model forother European labellingsystems

4. GMO-free – how it developped April 1997 1,27 Mio. Austrians sign referendum against GMOs June 1997 Foundation of ARGE Gentechnik-frei Aug. 1997 1st ship with GMO-free soya from Brazil (Handelshaus Pilstl) Sept. 1997 1st definition of GMO-free production standards developed by ARGE Gentechnik-frei May 1998 1st version of standard in Austrian Codex Alimentarius 1998 1st products with label on the market (organic products) April 2003 1st conventional GMO-free products (free-range eggs) Sept. 2003 1st GMO-free milk (Tirolmilch; conventional) April 2004 EU Regulation 1829/2003 for labelling of GMO food 2005/06 Breakthrough in the dairy market: NÖM (Austria‘s # 2) to label all milk; other dairy producers follow quickly 2008 Amendment of Codex Alimentarius to the version valid today 2009 New segments with the label: flour, bread & bakery products; also: first meat products (Fleischwaren Berger)

5. GMO-free – how it developped Aug. 2009 Presentation of label „Without GMO“ in Germany; foundation of VLOG e.V. (Association Food Without GMO) 2010 New wording for label: „Ohne Gentechnik hergestellt“ (for identical wording in all German speaking countries) June 2010 Complete Austrian dairy production GMO-free Oct. 2010 Complete Austrian egg-production (fresh eggs) GMO-free Feb./March 2012 Major part of Austrian poultry (chicken, turkexy) GMO-free March 2012 nationwide availability of GMO-free pork (at Billa / REWE) April 2012 Foundation of Donau Soja Initiative May 2012 1st certified GMO-free feed production at Fixkraft Futtermittel (before that: „Feed suitable for production of GMO-free food“ May 2012 Start of EU consultation process: „ Report about existing EU- programs on GMO-free labelling; incl. assessment of necessity for an EU-wide harmonisation process“ July 2012 GMO-free labelling standard in France

6. Role & function of the labelling platform • Driving force with developping, enabling and implementation of GMO-free labelling • Integrative role: enabling and managing a close, intensive and highly constructive cooperation & discourse between: • retailers  food & feed producers • organic farming associations  NGOs • consumer protection  certification • Pro-active support of pioneers in food & feed production: • Market orientieted: ensure freedom of choice for consumers - establish clear framework and legal security for producers  find & develop the right balance between: sensible for the environment & feasible on the market

7. Success proves: the Course is Right • Innovative: first & unique labelling project in Europe • Already 1998: first definition of production and certification standards for GMO-free food defined in Codex Alimentarius provides legal basis & security for producers • First comprehensive labelling system in Europe(production standard / label / certification system) • Model for other national regulations in Europe (e.g. Germany, France, Ireland, Southern Tyrol, LUX) • More than 1.900 products on the market (organic & conventional)

8. Retailers Hofer Rewe Spar Zielpunkt Lidl Organisations Bio Austria Greenpeace Global 2000 Environmental Protection Agency Worker‘s Chamber ARGE gesunde Tierernährung Fairtrade Agricultral Chamber Austrian Soya Association Donau Soja VLOG e.V. ProTerra More than 150 food producers Nearly all dairy producers Nearly all egg producers Producers of egg-products Poultry: Wech, Titz, Huber‘s Meat: Fleischwaren Berger, Styria Beef, SB Frischfleisch, Iboschwein, Steirerfleisch, Hütthaler, Messner, ... Major Autrian brands, such as: Rupp, Iglo Austria, Spitz, Bonduelle, Agrana Soya producers: Sojarei, Joya Mills: Haberfellner Mühle, Vonwiller – Erste Wr. Walzmühle, Vorarlberger Mühlen Diamant Handelshaus Pilstl Fixkraft Futtermittel Members

9. The goals – since the very beginning of the platform • Enable freedom of choice and Safety for consumers Uniform and consistent production standards • Uniform and consistent standards for organic & conventional products • National & international lobbying - secure a legal framework • Aim for European harmonisation of GMO-free regulations Uniform and strict certification processes • Comprehensive certification system; similar to organic certification • Compulsory certification process (= different to all other European systems!) Securing of the markets • Full transparency with production and certification • Securing of availability (feed, soya, maize, ...) • Support in marketing and consumer information for members

10. How the Platform Works Advisory Board (NGOs, science & experts, chambers & associations) Board (Retailers, producers, Organic farmers Ass.) Consultation & counseling Strategy, planning, project management Wahl ARGE Gentechnik-frei Coordination Office Certificationbodies(currently 6 authorized certificationbodies) Members& usersof the label Certification& consulting Funding through members fee & licensing fee  Consultation Information Lobbying PR & market communications

11. Tasks & Role of the Platform • Know-how transfer and support for producers with implementation, marketing and consumers information • Lobbying: • Further development of standard according to experiences in practice • Ensure (political) support for GMO-free farmers and food producers • Authorisation and harmonisation of certification bodies • Safeguarding of uniform and consistant certification • Liaision with other certification systems (e.g. organic, AMA) to enable best use of synergies • Information & communication with the various target audiences & stakeholders(media, politics & administration, NGOs, food authorities, national & international stakeholders etc.) • Marketing and communication of the label – information about background & framework of the labelling system – secure transparency for the system • International dialogue • Work towards European harmonisation

12. Preconditions for the Success of the System in Austria • Full integration of all relevant players & stakeholders into the platform • Strong support from retailers – from the very beginning • Strong support in puclic opinion & media • Pioneers in several market segments • Consistent and comprehensive system from the very beginning(production standard – label – certification standard) • Pragmatic development of standard – reacting to experiences in practice

13. Prerequisites for Labelling • Fulfil all specifications of Codex Alimentarius („Richtlinie zur Definition der ‚Gentechnikfreien Produktion‘ von Lebensmitteln und deren Kennzeichnung“) and / or EU Regulation on Organic Production (EU Regulation 834/2007) • License agreement with ARGE Gentechnik-frei • Fulfil all specification of the certification system of ARGE Gentechnik-frei and of the certification handbook of the Ministery of Economy (L25 = Handbook for risk-based certifcation of GMO-free production) • Certification agreement with one of the authorised certification bodies • Membership with ARGE Gentechnik-frei (membership fee = licensing fee for the use of the label) • Formal approval of use of label by ARGE Gentechnik-frei (after obtaining GMO-free certificate by a certification body) • Annual renewal of certification

14. GMO-free Standard • Defined in Austrian Codex Alimentarius: • Food, feed and additives: • are neither GMO nor GMO derivatives • don‘t contain GMOs or GMO derivatives • For food and ingredients of food production: have not been produced with the aid of GMOs or GMO derivatives • Clearly defined transition periods for feeding of animals: • Cattle for meat production: 12 months • Pork: complete fattening period • Animals for milk production: 2 weeks • Poultry for egg production: 6 weeks • Animals of aquaculture: complete fattening period

15. GMO-free Standard • Defined in Austrian Codex Alimentarius: • Clearly defined form of labelling – for food as well as for feed • Requirement to efer to the relevant regulation of GMO-free production on the label • Name of certification body on the label • Feed: „Feed suitable for GMO-free food production“ • Free choice of wording – however: in practice, label of ARGE Gentechnik-frei is the only label on the market • Full specifications of Codex Alimentarius need to be fulfilled for every form of labelling • no labelling of partial production such as: „Produced from GMO-free milk“ with yoghurts  only allowed in list of additives)

16. GMO-free Standard • Defined in Austrian Codex Alimentarius: • Thresholdvaluesforcontaminations: • Only valid foraccidentaland / ortechnicallyunavoidablecontamination • Maximum value: 0,9% per additive; zerovaluehastobethe explicit targetvalue • Anydetectionof GMOs (above 0,1%) hastoleadto an additional monitoringprocesslookingintoidentificationandeliminationofcause • Expertsgroupforinterpretationsand/orrecommendationsofamendmentstothestandard (parallel to EU regulationoforganicproduction 834/2007)

17. GMO-free Standard • Mandatory certification by external certification bodies • Certification bodies need to be accredited according to EN 45011 • Mandatory certification throughout the complete value chain • Parallel to organic production: Certification / monitoring of complete flow of goods; supported by analytical monitoring of samples • Uniform standards of certification, regulated by guideline of Ministery of Economy • Risk based certification process • Initial classification of risk by certification body • 100% monitoring / certification at start of labelling • Subsequent frequency of certification: according to risk level • Name of certification body on the label

18. The Final Product

19. Brand Awareness of Label 61%

20. Important for Purchasing Decision 67%

21. Major Current Challenges • Need to secure continuous and long-term availability of all relevant substances and additives (Soya!, additives such as Vitamin B2, ...) • Increase synergies – especially with certification and monitoring processes • Enable & support move towards GMO-free feed with pork production (currently under way in Austria) • Increased information & communication to consumers

22. GMO-free – European perspectives • Currently: GMO-free regulations in an increasing numer of EU member states: • Austria, Germany, France, Southern Tyrol • Soon to come: Luxemburg • Also: Switzerland • Clear need for pan-European harmonisation! • Currently under way: EU-wide consultation process & „Report about existing EU-programs on GMO-free labelling; incl. assessment of necessity for an EU-wide harmonisation process“ • Founded recently: Euro GMO-free = European Association for the Production of GMO-free Food Formal founding meeting in fall 2012

23. Thank you for your Patience!