ProVeg relieved that vote will not now take place this week
Negotiations between the EU Parliament, Council and Commission over proposed restrictions on using “meaty” names for plant-based foods like “burger” and “sausage” and other meat-related terms were derailed this week after extra restrictions were recommended.
French MEP Céline Imart, who sponsored the legislation, pushed to expand the list of protected terms beyond “burger,” “sausage,” and “steak,” adding new demands to ban “foie” and “ham” for vegetarian products. This went further than the Commission’s original proposal and reopened parts of the text that negotiators thought were already settled.
Denmark, which led the talks for EU countries, opposed expanding the naming ban and said it had no mandate to move on the naming rules. The disagreement halted the meeting after about two hours.
“We are relieved that a vote on “meaty” names for plant-based foods did not take place,” Jasmijn de Boo, Global CEO of ProVeg International, said.
“This allows the EU institutions time to reflect on the value of restricting plant-based food labeling. No-one is confused by terms like “vegetarian sausage”, as numerous surveys attest. So, in fact, there is no need to restrict such labeling.
“Instead, we must enter the New Year with determination to actively encourage the production and consumption of plant-based foods as a way to help boost the EU economy, improve the healthiness of European consumers’ diets, open up opportunities for Europe’s farmers and bring down the bloc’s greenhouse gas emissions.”
With no agreement reached, the file now passes to the upcoming Cyprus presidency, starting in January.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
An opinion editorial on the proposals written by ProVeg Global CEO, Jasmijn de Boo, featured in the EU media this week here: EUobserver.
For media inquiries, email [email protected].
For scientific data about the benefits of plant-based eating, see our Food System Data website.
About ProVeg International
ProVeg International is a food awareness organization with the mission to replace 50% of animal products globally with plant-based and cultivated foods by 2040. Our vision is a world where everyone chooses delicious and healthy food that is good for all humans, animals, and our planet.
