The production specifications are based on the Directive Defining the “GMO-free Production” of Food and its Labelling in the regulation of the Austrian Codex Alimentarius. The directive was published first in 1998 and has been revised in December 2007.
Specifications for GMO-free production:
The strict cultivation, production and monitoring specifications of the Codex Directive also allow an informed decision for consumers when buying food – now and in the future.
The Codex Directive resp. the quality label „Ohne Gentechnik hergestellt“ on the product itself ensure that
Exemption Clauses
Exemption clauses may apply for ingredients such as food additives, flavours, enzymes and vitamins – analogous to the EU Organic Regulation – if ingredients are not continually and demonstrably available in GMO-free quality but are necessary for the production. Exemption clauses of this sort can be granted by the Ministry of Health, which is responsible for issues on GMOs and food, upon the recommendation of the expert group defined in the directive - in accordance with the market evolution as regards the supply with GMO-free ingredients.
The recent status of the directive resp. the valid exemption clauses are published on the website of the Federal Ministry of Health.
Codex-Directive "GMO-free" (pdf; 122 KB)