Reuters reports that restaurant and canteen food containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) must be clearly marked when new rules on GMO labelling take effect in April.
On April 18 new European Union rules require food sold in retail venues must be labelled if it contains GMOs. Animal feed sold to farmers also has to be labelled.
The German Agriculture and Consumer Protection Minister Alexander Mueller said in a statement, that the ministry has completed talks with German state authorities, responsible for food inspections, and food industry associations to achieve a smooth implementation of the new regulations.
"It is now the responsibility of the private sector to fulfill its labelling responsibilities," he added.
He expects state authorities to increase food inspections from April 18.
In other news, Reuters reports that UK green groups hailed Bayer's (XETRA:BAYG.DE) decision to shelve plans to sell genetically modified (GMO)maize to farmers in Britain because of tight government restrictions.
"GM maize had serious question marks about its safety and performance and should never have been given UK approval," Friends of the Earth campaigner Pete Riley said in a statement after Bayer announced its decision.
The UK government had given Bayer limited approval for its Chardon LL forage maize variety earlier this month after tests showed it less likely than other GMO varieties to damage wildlife.
Today, Bayer said it decided not to pursue its plans because of continued uncertainties and undefined timelines made the crop variety economically unviable.
The Soil Association, a leading UK organic group, said, "A very real threat has been hanging over all organic farms, and they will be very relieved today."
Analysts say Bayer 's decision not to pursue commercial cultivation will mean it could take years before any such crops reached the market — Chardon LL was given initial EU approval in 1998.
A Bayer spokesman said the company did not sell Chardon maize, used as a feed for cattle, anywhere in the world. It had planned the UK to be the first market.
Bayer's main markets for genetically modified products are in North America. It licenses technology to other seed companies in the United States.
Bayer CropScience had annual sales of around 5.8 billion euros last year and aims to unseat Switzerland's Syngenta AG (SYNN.VX) as the world's top agrochemicals company by 2006.
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