The EU’s long‑debated ban on the use of meat‑derived names for plant‑based products appears to be moving forward. Insiders say that on Thursday the European Parliament, the Commission, and the Council of Member States are expected to reach a consensus in trilogue negotiations on prohibiting certain product appellations across the bloc.
The focus, as reported by “Spiegel”, will be on animal‑related terms such as “Beef” “Pork” “Chicken” “Bacon” and “T‑Bone”. The Council and the Commission are pushing for this more restricted scope. Whether the ban will also cover names of items like sausages and burgers remains a point of negotiation, with the Parliament advocating for an expansion. This is evident from the negotiation documents cited by “Spiegel”.
German CDU MEP Peter Liese has again voiced opposition to the naming ban. “I really hope that the German government succeeds in its efforts against the ban” Liese told “Spiegel”. “Our foreign and economic policy issues are far more pressing than a veggie‑burger prohibition”.
The naming ban falls within the broader framework of the Common Market Organisation (CMO). This set of rules governs agricultural markets and ensures uniform market regulations for agricultural products across all Member States.
The original purpose of the CMO regulation, according to Dutch MEP Anna Strolenberg of Volt, was to enable contracts between farms and downstream buyers, such as dairy processors. Strolenberg warns that the plan could be watered down by national exemptions for several products and milk cooperatives. “Instead of boosting farmers’ income, we’re debating a veggie‑burger ban” she told “Spiegel”. “That would be an absurd outcome”.
