News

9.3.2012: New soy-GMs approved

The European Commission decided to approve three new GM soybean varieties for import as feed and food.

The new GMs are:
• MON87701 by Monsanto (insect resistance)
• 356043 by Pioneer (herbicide tolerance)
• A5547-127 by Bayer CropScience (herbicide tolerance)

Furthermore, the approval of the GM MON40-3-2 (GTS40-3-2, RoundupReady Soy) has been extended for ten years.

The stacked event MON87701xMON89788 is still in the approval process. The safety assessment by EFSA was completed and the stacked event was classified as safe.

Including these three new events there are presently six soy GMs (GTS40-3-2, MON89788 und A2704) approved for import as feed and food in the EU.

For the detection of these GMOs in your products PLANTON provides adequate analysis strategies. We would be happy to assist you with our team. Please contact us by mail (info@planton.de) or by phone (+49 431 380 150).

15.–18. Februar 2012 PLANTON the BioFach 2012 Fair in Nuremberg

This year again PLANTON had a stand at the BioFach 2012 in Nuremberg and provided comprehensive BioAnalytics information. The World Organic Trade Fair attracted more than 40.000 people.

Many visitors seized the possibility to get informed about analytical topics. We focused in particular on our new multiplex-allergen-analyses. This PCR-technique allows the analysis of up to five allergens by one single run.

The main GM topic discussed at our stand was the analysis of GM pollen in honey. The latest findings of BioAnalytics attracted many stake holders of the organic food branch indicating the large interest in this business field.

2.1.2012: GM Rice from China European Commission tightens measures for the import of rice into the EU

IOn December 22, 2011 the European Commission has defined new measures for the import of rice and rice products from China into the EU. Therefore, the Commission reacted on the increasing amount of GM (genetically modified) rice varieties produced in China and the insufficient measures of the Chinese authorities to control GM rice products originating in or consigning from China. Analyses of Chinese rice products revealed contamination of the unauthorised GM rice Bt 63 in the past.

GM rice is not authorised at all within the EU. Therefore, the consumer should be protected from contaminated prodcuts by defined measures: every consignment of rice or rice products must be controlled by analytical measures performed by the Chinese authorities and in addition by an official lab of the EU Member State.

The GM analysis shall be carried out with a homogenised laboratory sample of 2.5 kg or 500 g for processed food or feed. The genetic elements 35S, TNOS and Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac shall be analysed by real-time PCR.

This procedure is valid for all conseignments that left China from February 1, 2012 on.

The complete text of the Commission Implementing Decision (2011/884/EU) is available for download at our homepage www.planton.de.

We would be very pleased to answer your questions concerning GM rice analyses and to support you with our PLANTON team.

Berlin, December 13–14, 2011: PLANTON on the honey workshop of the BMELV

International Workshop on the consequences of the ECJ judgement on GM pollen in honey for GM crop releases and cultivation in Germany and the EU

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) decided in September this year that pollen of genetically modified (GM) plants (GMP) contained in honey counts as a food ingredient and requires authorisation. One of the consequences of this “reclassification” is that honey containing pollen of GMPs now falls within the scope of the regulation on GM food and feed. As a consequence, honey containing GM pollen can be placed on the market only if the GMP in question has been authorised as food and labelling requirements are observed. All unauthorised GMPs are subject to the zero tolerance policy.

The international workshop discussed the consequences of the ECJ judgement for GM crop releases and cultivation in Germany and the EU and for the honey market. The workshop provided scientific data on practical measures for coexistence of beekeeping with commercial cultivation of GM plants and for experimental field releases. Detection methods for pollen in honey and labelling issues were discussed as well.

We would like to support you developing an analysing strategy for your honey products.

02.11.2011 – Agricultural Minister Rumpf was briefed by PLANTON about the „honey decision” of the European Court of Justice

On November 2, 2011 a delegation of the ministry of agriculture of Schleswig-Holstein led by the Agricultural Minister Dr. Juliane Rumpf visited the bioanalytics company PLANTON. Main topic: the decision of the European Court of justice about the handling of GM pollen in honey.
First the complex topic of GMO analysis has been explained by a presentation of PLANTON’s CEO Dr. Michael Kleine. Then a lab tour was organised for Minister Rumpf and the delegates of the ministry. An overview about the practical realisation of GMO testing procedures was shown. Special emphasis was put on the sophisticated but safe analysis of putative GM pollen contamination in honey.

08. – 12.10.2011 – PLANTON at ANUGA in Cologne, Germany

This year again the world’s leading food fair was a great success for PLANTON.
The complexity of the analyses and the continuous increase of e.g. new approved or non-approved GM events is a big challenge for the food industry. The quality assurance departments of food producers need highly qualified information and support. PLANTON helped its clients by supplying them with these informations. Therefore, information about important topics such as choosing the right analytical strategy for GMO testing, methods of Mycotoxin analysis and new modular test system for Allergens was provided.

PLANTON celebrates anniversary

More than 100 guests were celebrating the 10th anniversary of PLANTON at the new restaurant "Längengrad" in Kiel. The mayor of Kiel Torsten Albig mentioned in his speech the achievements of PLANTON. He pointed out the importance of the knowledge-based economy and therefore the significance of top minds in our city and country.

15. – 20.05.2011 PLANTON at the Gordon Research Conference "Antimicrobial Peptides" in Il Ciocco, Italy

Dr. Kleine Managing Director of PLANTON was invited to give a talk at the Gordon Research Conference about the latest clinical development of their AMPs. He reported about the results of the Phase I clinical study of their AMP product.

16. – 19.02.2011 BIOFACH 2011: Agricultural Minister Rumpf visited PLANTON:

The Agricultural Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, Dr. Juliane Rumpf, visited the BioFach 2011 trade fair in Nuremberg. Dr. Rumpf dropped by the PLANTON stand to get informed about the latest developments in the bio-analytical field. The Agricultural Minister was interested in the discussion about the analysis of contaminations of non-approved GMOs in livestock feed material imported into the EU. The EU is currently deciding if 0.1% GMO contaminations within imported feed stuff can be accepted.

17.01.11 Prime Minister Carstensen gets informed about GMO testing at PLANTON:

The Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, Peter Harry Carstensen, visited PLANTON on 17 January 2011. Prime Minister Carstensen was interested in the analysis of adventitious presence (AP) of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in food, feed and seed material. The managing director of PLANTON, Dr. Michael Kleine gave Prime Minister Carstensen a tour of the lab. Carstensen was impressed about the prerequisites and precautions necessary for such a thorough and sensitive molecular analysis