"The lawmakers agreed to ban the use of 31 meat-related names to describe vegetarian and vegan products, including beef, chicken, drumstick, steak, bacon, ribs, wing, t-bone and loin, according to a statement published on the EU council website. But an earlier proposal to prohibit names such as burgers and sausages was abandoned."
"Celine Imart, the French centre-right MEP, who devised the amendment to ban meaty names, hailed the outcome as an undeniable success of our livestock farmers. Imart, also a cereal farmer, said the agreement reached on Thursday recognises the value of livestock farmers' work and protects their products, fruits of unique know-how, against a form of unfair competition."
"Anna Strolenberg, a Dutch Green MEP who negotiated on the issue, said farmers would lose out and said the law should have done more to strengthen their bargaining power. She also said: Fortunately, the conservative word police has failed to ban the veggie burger. Unfortunately, a number of other words still end up on the blacklist."
"The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) described the banning of some names as regrettable. Consumers want to eat healthier and need convenient and affordable options, said Agustin Reyna, the BEUC director general."
EU negotiators reached a compromise on food naming regulations, prohibiting 31 meat-related terms such as steak, bacon, ribs, and drumstick from describing vegetarian and vegan products. However, terms like burgers and sausages remain permitted for plant-based foods. The naming rules form part of broader regulations designed to strengthen farmers' market positions. French MEP Celine Imart championed the ban as protecting livestock farmers from unfair competition. Critics, including Dutch Green MEP Anna Strolenberg and the European Consumer Organisation, argued the restrictions create unnecessary complexity and hinder innovation. The agreement requires further procedural approval before implementation.
#eu-food-labeling-regulations #vegetarian-and-vegan-product-naming #agricultural-policy #consumer-protection #livestock-industry-protection
Read at www.theguardian.com
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