• The European Parliament voted to ban meat-related labels for plant-based products.
• The vote passed with a majority of 355 in favor and 247 against.
• This legislation could affect consumer understanding and market dynamics in the EU.

The European Parliament voted on October 8, 2023, to ban the use of meat-related terms such as “burger” and “steak” for plant-based foods, a move viewed as a significant win for livestock farmers facing competition from plant-based alternatives. The measure was approved with 355 votes in favor and 247 against, although it requires negotiation with the European Commission and member states before becoming law, according to SCMP and Le Monde.

The proposal reflects a growing trend in the EU where consumption of plant-based foods has increased significantly due to health and environmental concerns. Celine Imart, the French lawmaker who sponsored the amendment, stated that using meat labels is “misleading for the consumer” and emphasized the importance of protecting the livelihoods of livestock farmers. She stressed, “A sausage means meat produced by our livestock farmers. Full stop,” according to BBC.

Opposition to the ban has come from various stakeholders, including food retailers and environmental advocates, particularly in Germany, which is the largest market for plant-based alternatives in Europe. Critics argue that the ban could hinder consumer choices and that it disregards the growing acceptance of plant-based diets. Irina Popescu from the European consumer body BEUC noted that "almost 70% of European consumers understand these names as long as products are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian," according to Le Monde and BBC.

Supporters of the ban maintain that it aligns with existing EU regulations that already restrict certain terms for dairy alternatives. However, internal divisions among lawmakers were evident, with some members of Imart's EPP group dismissing the priority of such a ban as "nonsensical." Critics argue that the focus should be on addressing broader agricultural concerns rather than labeling debates, as indicated by various comments from lawmakers during the voting process, according to SCMP and BBC.