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RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Possible ban on labelling plant-based food with animal terms like 'burger'
The European Commission is set to consider a ban on plant-based food products from being labelled with terms such as 'sausage', 'burger', or 'steak'. It follows a proposal from French MEP Céline Imart to make it illegal to use terms linked to animal products on labelling for products that don't contain meat. The Commission is currently drafting its own proposals for the reform of the common market organisation (CMO) regulation, which allows for changes to rules governing agricultural products. These are due to be published in the coming weeks. A number of member states, including Ireland, have expressed support for such a ban. The EU's Agriculture and Fisheries Council recently debated a paper from the Czech government calling for the protection of traditional names of animal-origin food. Austria, Hungary, Italy, and Slovakia co-signed the document, while Ireland, France, and Spain are among the countries backing it. According to the paper, an increasing number of plant-based foods have come onto the single market that are "similar in appearance, taste and consistency to products of animal origin", and that they are "very often labelled with the names belonging to meat, eggs, honey, fish, and products made from them" despite the fact that they "differ substantially from food products of animal origin". The paper says that it is essential that foods that "imitate" foods of animal origin do not "mislead the consumer by their labelling". Farming groups welcome pressure on Commission to make changes Welcoming reports that the EU Commission is under pressure to ban the use of dairy or meat terminology to promote vegetarian or synthetic foods, ICMSA President Denis Drennan said that "the employment of terms like 'sausage', 'burger' and 'schnitzel' in vegetarian or vegan foods was deliberate and cynical and must constitute a breach of any trade descriptions act as commonly understood. "The hijacking of traditional meat and dairy terms actually constitutes an admission by the corporations involved that they are unable to convince consumers other than by such camouflage. "Obviously, people are free to eat whatever they want but it is a matter of considerable irritation to farmers to see the very people and corporations who want to replace our naturally produced meat and dairy with their own non-meat and non-dairy products very deliberately using the terms that they know are generally understood to refer to traditional dairy and meat products," Mr Drennan added. Last year the European Court of Justice ruled that EU member states were prevented from introducing bans on the use of meaty names on non-meat products. This followed a legal challenge from plant-based food producers against a French ban.
The Journal
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Farmers back EU Commission proposal that would ban vegetarian products using terms like ‘burger'
IRISH FARMERS ARE backing an EU Commission proposal that would ban plant-based products from using terms such as 'burger' and 'sausage'. Last year, the EU Court of Justice ruled that plant-based foods can continue to be sold and promoted using terms traditionally associated with meat, as long as it does not mislead consumers. A 2021 French law had banned the use of meat-related terms such as 'veggie burgers' or 'vegan sausages' from being used to market foods made from plant-based proteins. But advocacy groups, including the European Vegetarian Union, challenged this and the EU Court of Justice ruled that member states cannot prevent manufacturers of plant-based protein foods from using common descriptive names to label products. However, a French MEP has rekindled the argument. The EU Commission is currently drafting proposals for the reform of the common market organisation regulation, which allows for changes to rules governing agricultural products. French MEP Céline Imart last month added in an amendment to the Commission proposals that would mean only meat products could use terms like 'steak', 'burger', and 'sausage'. Her amendment would also ban 'cell-cultured products' from using these terms. Advertisement President of Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA), Denis Drennan, has said that the use of terms like 'sausage' and 'burger' for vegetarian or vegan foods is 'deliberate and cynical'. 'It must constitute a breach of any trade descriptions act as commonly understood,' he added. Drennan also described the use of such terms for plant-based food as the 'hijacking of traditional meat terms'. He added that is 'constitutes an admission by the corporations involved that they were unable to convince consumers other than by such 'camouflage''. He said farmers are 'irritated' to see non-meat products 'want to replace our naturally produced meat' using terms that 'they know are generally understood to refer to traditional dairy and products'. 'They want to use our terminology and the acceptance borne of centuries that those terms have amongst the general public to effectively 'smuggle' their own products past a sceptical public,' he added. He also claimed that such terms 'have a degree of acceptance and understanding that was hard earned by farmers'. 'Rather than come up with their own terms and descriptions, they simply appropriate the names of the very foods they're trying to replace and supplant,' said Drennan. 'The fact that they're being allowed to 'camouflage' and take advantage of people's understanding is wrong and will have to be addressed.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
‘Unbelievably cynical': farmers accuse vegan food producers of ‘hijacking' sausage and burger labels
Irish farmers have welcomed tentative moves by the European Parliament to restrict 'cynical' vegetarian and vegan food producers from using words such as sausage, burger and schnitzel to sell their products. The European Commission is drafting new rules covering EU-wide agriculture and MEPs are using the overhaul to lobby for changes to how vegetarian and vegan products are sold to customers. The 'hijacking' of traditional farming terms was 'deliberate and cynical' and could constitute 'a breach of any trade descriptions Act', said Irish Creamery and Milk Supplier's Association (ICMSA) president Denis Drennan. French MEP Céline Imart is proposing an amendment banning plant-based products being labelled with a long list of terms linked to animal products. READ MORE It is the latest salvo in the long-running battle involving farmers, their representatives, the commission and vegetarian food producers. The differing perspectives have also been aired at the European Court of Justice, which has ruled that plant-based foods can use terms traditionally associated with meat once consumers are not misled. [ Flip Burger takeaway review: are these the best veggie burgers in Dublin? Opens in new window ] The court has also ruled that non-dairy products cannot be described as milk and cheese. Farmers have continued to fight for the naming rights to certain products. Mr Drennan said the 'hijacking' of farming terms 'constituted an admission by the corporations involved that they were unable to convince consumers other than by such camouflage'. He said it was 'a matter of considerable irritation to farmers to see the very people and corporations who want to replace our naturally produced meat and dairy very deliberately using the terms they know are generally understood to refer to traditional dairy and meat products'. Oisín Coughlan, climate policy analyst and former chief executive of Friends of the Earth, expressed bafflement at the ICMSA's comments restricting vegan food producers from using words such as sausage or burger, and said any such move would be 'a step too far'. [ What's really in veggie burgers? Well, they aren't always made of veg Opens in new window ] 'Everyone knows that vegetarian sausages don't come from pigs and I don't see how a vegan sausage or veggie burger is damaging meat producers,' he said. 'It just communicates that if you don't want to eat meat there are equivalents available, and that seems fair to me.' Mr Drennan accused vegan food producers of wilfully trying 'to effectively 'smuggle' their own products past a sceptical public'. He suggested that plant-based food producers use terms such as sausage, burger and milk 'because they know that those terms already have a degree of acceptance'. [ The Irish Times view on food labelling: defending the sausage Opens in new window ] He claimed food producers 'simply appropriate the names of the very foods they're trying to replace and supplant'. 'It's unbelievably cynical and actually an admission that they know that they're unable to convince consumers by their own efforts or merits,' he said.
See - Sada Elbalad
18-06-2025
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
EU Parliament Approves €4 Billion Financial Aid Package for Egypt
Yara Sameh On Wednesday, Parliament approved a provisional agreement reached with Council on a macro-financial assistance (MFA) package for Egypt worth €4 billion. A short-term loan of up to €1 billion was already disbursed at the end of 2024. An additional loan of up to €4 billion will now be disbursed. Egypt will have 35 years to repay the loans. The funds' release is subject to Egypt's satisfactory implementation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme and other policy measures to be agreed in a memorandum between the EU and the Egyptian authorities. In a yearly report to Parliament and Council, the Commission will examine the progress made, assess Egypt's economic prospects and evaluate the loans' impact on the economic and fiscal situation. The Commission will also assess steps taken to shore up democratic mechanisms and the rule of law and to protect human rights in the country. The agreement with Council was approved by 386 votes in favour, 132 against, and with 49 abstentions. Parliament's rapporteur Céline Imart (EPP, FR), said: 'Parliament's backing for this EU loan reflects its high regard for Egypt as a partner country. By helping Egypt, we are also looking after EU interests in an unstable region.' With its macro-financial assistance initiatives, the EU supports partner countries that are struggling with financial, economic and societal challenges, and helps them with structural political and economic reforms. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
