EU Supreme Court decides in favor of "vegan labeling"
The European Court of Justice has ruled in opposition to France's efforts to prohibit the use of meat-related terminology for plant-based products. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Manufacturers of plant-based protein foods are not restricted from using terms like “sausage” and “burger,” as affirmed by a ruling from the European Court of Justice.
The ruling, published on the ECJ website on Friday, clarifies that EU member states cannot prohibit manufacturers of plant-based protein foods from using traditional names associated with animal-derived products, provided the ingredients are clearly labeled and not misleading.
This decision addresses a 2022 decree by the French government that sought to ban meat-related terms such as ‘veggie burgers’ and ‘vegan sausages’ for plant-based items. The French government argued that such labels could confuse consumers or mislead them.
Subsequently, this decree faced opposition from the European Vegetarian Union, the Vegetarian Association of France, the association Proteines France, and the company Beyond Meat.
In 2023, the four entities appealed to the French Council of State for the annulment of the decree, claiming it contradicted EU-wide regulations, leading to the referral of the issue to the ECJ.
The ECJ stated that EU law “adequately protects consumers,” even in cases where “the sole component or ingredient which they may expect to find in a food designated by a customary name or a descriptive name containing certain terms is wholly replaced.”
The court also underscored that its ruling does not impede a member state's ability to enforce consumer protection measures if marketing is deemed misleading.
France was the first EU country to implement regulations against plant-based meat names, citing a need for more transparency in response to the rising demand for vegetarian and vegan products.
Last year, Italian lawmakers also targeted the plant-based sector, proposing a ban on the production and sale of cultivated meat.
Rafael Pinto, the EU policy manager at the European Vegetarian Union, welcomed the ECJ’s ruling, stating in a press release: “This marks an important step in guaranteeing that consumers have accurate and transparent information about the products they purchase.” He added that the ruling would “discourage other EU countries from attempting to enforce name bans that are ultimately counterproductive, self-damaging, and create greater consumer confusion.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
The ruling, published on the ECJ website on Friday, clarifies that EU member states cannot prohibit manufacturers of plant-based protein foods from using traditional names associated with animal-derived products, provided the ingredients are clearly labeled and not misleading.
This decision addresses a 2022 decree by the French government that sought to ban meat-related terms such as ‘veggie burgers’ and ‘vegan sausages’ for plant-based items. The French government argued that such labels could confuse consumers or mislead them.
Subsequently, this decree faced opposition from the European Vegetarian Union, the Vegetarian Association of France, the association Proteines France, and the company Beyond Meat.
In 2023, the four entities appealed to the French Council of State for the annulment of the decree, claiming it contradicted EU-wide regulations, leading to the referral of the issue to the ECJ.
The ECJ stated that EU law “adequately protects consumers,” even in cases where “the sole component or ingredient which they may expect to find in a food designated by a customary name or a descriptive name containing certain terms is wholly replaced.”
The court also underscored that its ruling does not impede a member state's ability to enforce consumer protection measures if marketing is deemed misleading.
France was the first EU country to implement regulations against plant-based meat names, citing a need for more transparency in response to the rising demand for vegetarian and vegan products.
Last year, Italian lawmakers also targeted the plant-based sector, proposing a ban on the production and sale of cultivated meat.
Rafael Pinto, the EU policy manager at the European Vegetarian Union, welcomed the ECJ’s ruling, stating in a press release: “This marks an important step in guaranteeing that consumers have accurate and transparent information about the products they purchase.” He added that the ruling would “discourage other EU countries from attempting to enforce name bans that are ultimately counterproductive, self-damaging, and create greater consumer confusion.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
