Tonnes of Russian Non-GMO Lecithin Available Following First Certification

14 Oct 2013 --- PROTEIN PLUS Co. Ltd, one of Russia’s largest suppliers of fluid lecithins in bulk, IBCs and drums for the food industry has become the first Russian supplier certified as non-GMO compliant by Cert ID Europe, so providing easy access for the European food industry to tonnes of independently certified non GMO product.

Although Russia grows vast quantities of non-GM soy, certification is non-existent so food manufacturers have been hesitant about sourcing from the country. Cert ID’s non-GMO certification scheme, recognised in the food industry as one of the most rigorous available, means that manufactures can now source with confidence using PROTEIN PLUS as an intermediary.

Richard Werran CEO of Cert ID Europe explains: “With pressure on supplies of non-GM soy from countries such as Brazil means that food manufacturers have to source lecithin and other soy based ingredients for example from elsewhere in the world. Cert ID Europe has already certified tonnes of food grade non GM soy from North America and continues to work with Indian suppliers on non-GMO certification too. Russia now gives another – and more accessible – alternative sourcing option.

“In addition many brands have set up factories and transferred production to Poland with further migration expected to Romania and Bulgaria. Being able to locally source lecithin with non-GMO surety is a real advantage for food businesses”.

Valery Krasilnikov, General Director of PROTEIN PLUS Co. Ltd. explains: “The crops Russia produces today make full use of Non-GM domestic varieties, successfully developed over many years, without resorting to GM technology. With WTO accession, Russia now has increased international access to valuable international food and feed markets as well as increased opportunities for the domestic trade of grains and oilseeds. The value and competitiveness of our products is significantly increased by the additional assurance independent certification such as CERT ID provides.”

Based in Saint Petersburg, PROTEIN PLUSbegan more than 20 years ago becoming a privately owned company in 1992 and since then has become one of the largest suppliers and exporters of Russian lecithins, rapeseed, sunflower and soy for home and overseas markets. PROTEIN PLUS provides on-going technical advice and scientific support to both customers and domestic producers to produce standardised fluid lecithins for food, feed, pharma applications.