Ban on “veggie burgers” ruled unlawful

European countries are not allowed to ban manufacturers of meat substitutes from using designations that traditionally refer to meat, the European Court of Justice says… but there is a catch.

French ban unlawful

Vegetarian sausages, soy steaks or vegetable burgers: those designations may well continue to be used by manufacturers of meat alternatives, according to a European Court of Justice ruling. Manufacturer Beyond Meat and three organisations for vegetarians had filed a case after France had banned the use of “meaty” designations for plant-based products.

However, France was wrong to introduce such a ban, the Court now states. In its opinion, countries can still lay down legal designations for specific meat products such as sausages or burgers, and then those designations cannot be used for products that do not meet the definition. However, a general ban is not allowed.

Road to confusion?

The European Vegetarian Union – one of the organisations that had brought the case – has mixed feelings about the ruling. On the positive side, it will discourage other countries from pushing through a similar blanket ban: “Today’s ruling from the ECJ not only protects consumers, but also safeguards the integrity of the single market. By ensuring clarity in food labelling, we can promote plant-based alternatives and work towards achieving environmental targets as well as boost EU competitiveness and innovation”, Rafael Pinto of the EVU explains.

However, if member states each start introducing their own definitions for certain products, there is a risk of confusion in the European market: it may create a situation in which a sausage would not be the same product in Germany as in France, for example, which would cause problems for manufacturers and confusion for consumers.