EU's Supreme Court Decides in Favor of Vegan Labeling
The European Court of Justice has decided against France’s efforts to prohibit the use of meat-related terms for products made from plants. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Manufacturers of plant-based protein foods are permitted to use terms like “sausage” and “burger,” as ruled by the European Court of Justice.
According to a decision published on the ECJ website on Friday, EU member states are not allowed to restrict plant-based food manufacturers from using names typically associated with animal products, provided that the ingredients are clearly labeled and not misleading.
The ruling was issued in response to a 2022 decree from the French government, which sought to prohibit the use of meat-related terms such as ‘veggie burgers’ and ‘vegan sausages’ for plant-based offerings. The French government argued that such labels might confuse or mislead consumers.
This decree was challenged by the European Vegetarian Union, the Vegetarian Association of France, Proteines France, and Beyond Meat.
In 2023, these four groups requested the French Council of State to annul the decree, claiming it conflicted with EU regulations, leading to a referral to the ECJ.
The ECJ stated that EU law “adequately protects consumers,” including scenarios 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 emphasized that its decision does not impact a member state’s authority to enforce consumer protection regulations where marketing may be misleading.
France was the first country in the EU to implement restrictions on plant-based meat labeling, citing the need for increased transparency as the demand for vegetarian and vegan foods rises. Last year, lawmakers in Italy also focused on the plant-based sector, proposing to ban the production and sale of cultivated meat.
Rafael Pinto, EU policy manager at the European Vegetarian Union, lauded the ECJ ruling, expressing 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.”
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to a decision published on the ECJ website on Friday, EU member states are not allowed to restrict plant-based food manufacturers from using names typically associated with animal products, provided that the ingredients are clearly labeled and not misleading.
The ruling was issued in response to a 2022 decree from the French government, which sought to prohibit the use of meat-related terms such as ‘veggie burgers’ and ‘vegan sausages’ for plant-based offerings. The French government argued that such labels might confuse or mislead consumers.
This decree was challenged by the European Vegetarian Union, the Vegetarian Association of France, Proteines France, and Beyond Meat.
In 2023, these four groups requested the French Council of State to annul the decree, claiming it conflicted with EU regulations, leading to a referral to the ECJ.
The ECJ stated that EU law “adequately protects consumers,” including scenarios 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 emphasized that its decision does not impact a member state’s authority to enforce consumer protection regulations where marketing may be misleading.
France was the first country in the EU to implement restrictions on plant-based meat labeling, citing the need for increased transparency as the demand for vegetarian and vegan foods rises. Last year, lawmakers in Italy also focused on the plant-based sector, proposing to ban the production and sale of cultivated meat.
Rafael Pinto, EU policy manager at the European Vegetarian Union, lauded the ECJ ruling, expressing 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.”
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
