European Parliament Decide to Ban Meat-Related Terms for Plant-Based Products
In a significant vote this week, MEPs decided by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms such as "burger" and "sausage" solely for meat products.
The Vote Means
Should the measure is implemented, common plant-based products such as plant-based burgers, tofu steak, and cauliflower schnitzel may need to be renamed throughout European Union markets.
However, for the ban to be enforced, it must gain approval from a majority of the 27 EU member states, something that remains far from certain.
Key Debate Surrounding the Measure
Supporters contend that customers need clear labeling and that traditional names must only describe products from animals.
"An escalope and sausages are products from animal farming: not from synthetic production or plant products," said France's lawmaker the proposal's author.
Opponents, led by Green MEPs, described the move pointless restriction.
"Plant-based burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, just rightwing politicians," declared Austrian lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Past Attempts and Legal Context
This marks another effort to control these terminology. The European parliament rejected a comparable prohibition in 2020.
The French government previously enacted a national restriction on traditional names for vegetarian products in 2020, but EU courts ruled it invalid under EU law in this year.
Business and Consumer Response
Major Germany's retailers including Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, warning that changing established names would confuse consumers.
Advocacy organizations cite research showing that most shoppers comprehend these names when products are properly marked as vegetarian.
"Nearly seventy percent of consumers recognize these names as long as items are explicitly labelled plant-based," said Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at BEUC.
What Next
This legislative measure now requires consideration by EU member states, and it needs to secure broad support to become law.
Considering the divided opinions within various politicians and the public, the future of the proposal is still unclear.
