EU Lawmakers Ban Meat-Related Names for Vegetarian and Vegan Products
EU lawmakers have reached an agreement to prohibit the use of 31 meat-related names, such as steak and bacon, for vegetarian and vegan food products. However, terms like “veggie burgers” and meat-free sausages will still be permitted.
On Thursday, negotiators from the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers found a compromise on regulations governing food product names. Despite this, some critics argue that the new rules introduce unnecessary complexity.
The lawmakers agreed to ban the use of 31 specific meat-related terms to describe vegetarian and vegan products. These banned terms include beef, chicken, drumstick, steak, bacon, ribs, wing, t-bone, and loin, as detailed in a statement published on the EU Council website.
Earlier proposals to ban names such as burgers and sausages were ultimately dropped from the regulation.
The naming rules form part of a broader regulatory framework designed to strengthen the position of farmers within food supply markets. The agreement must still pass further procedural steps, which are typically formalities, though there remains a possibility of last-minute negotiations.
Reactions from Lawmakers and Stakeholders
Céline Imart, a French centre-right Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and cereal farmer, praised the outcome as
“an undeniable success of our livestock farmers.”Imart added that the agreement
“recognises the value of livestock farmers’ work and protects their products, fruits of unique know-how, against a form of unfair competition.”
Conversely, Anna Strolenberg, a Dutch Green MEP involved in the negotiations, expressed concern that farmers would lose out under the new rules. She stated that the legislation should have done more to enhance farmers’ bargaining power.
Strolenberg also commented on the language restrictions, saying:
“Fortunately, the conservative word police has failed to ban the veggie burger. Unfortunately, a number of other words still end up on the blacklist. That’s a shame; Europe should be backing innovative entrepreneurs, not putting new obstacles in their way.”
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) criticized the ban on certain names as regrettable. Agustín Reyna, BEUC’s director general, remarked:
“Consumers want to eat healthier and need convenient and affordable options. These names make it easy for those who want to integrate these options in their diets, and the new rules will increase confusion and are simply not necessary.”
Maria Panayiotou, the Minister for Agriculture of Cyprus, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, emphasized the benefits for farmers, stating:
“By improving support for farmers and enhancing the role of producer organisations, we are giving farmers additional tools to secure a more predictable and sustainable future.”
