EU Lawmakers Vote to Ban Meat-Related Names for Plant-Based Products
During a significant vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted by a margin of 355-247 to restrict product terms including "steak" and "schnitzel" solely for meat products.
What the Vote Means
If this proposal is implemented, common plant-based products like veggie burgers, soy steak, and vegetable schnitzel may have to change their names across European Union countries.
However, for the ban to be enforced, it needs to receive approval from a majority of the EU's 27 member states, something that is far from certain.
Key Arguments Surrounding the Proposal
Supporters argue that customers require transparent information and that traditional names should exclusively describe products derived from livestock.
"An escalope and sausages are goods from our livestock: not from synthetic production nor plant products," stated French MEP CĂ©line Imart.
Opponents, including Green MEPs, described the move political maneuvering.
"Veggie burgers, wheat schnitzel and soy sausage do not confuse consumers, just rightwing politicians," said Austria's lawmaker Thomas Waitz.
Previous Attempts and Judicial Context
This isn't the first effort to regulate these names. EU lawmakers voted down a similar prohibition in four years ago.
France earlier enacted a national restriction on meat terms for vegetarian products in 2020, but the European court of justice determined it invalid under European legislation in this year.
Business and Consumer Response
Major German retailers such as Aldi and Lidl object to the measure, cautioning that changing established names would mislead consumers.
Consumer groups point to surveys indicating that most shoppers understand these names when products are properly identified as vegetarian.
"Nearly 70% of shoppers recognize these names provided products are explicitly marked vegan or vegetarian," said Irina Popescu, a consumer expert at BEUC.
What Following the Vote
This proposal now requires review by European governments, where it needs to obtain majority approval to be enacted.
Considering the divided opinions among various lawmakers and the public, the outcome of the proposal is still unclear.