Despite legal concerns, France publishes a new ban on ‘meaty’ terms for plant-based foods
In a move that borders on the farcical, the French government has once more proposed a ban on the use of ‘meaty’ terms for plant-based alternatives. France has already attempted to propose such a decree before. The European Vegetarian Union (EVU) and the Association Végétarienne de France (AVF) brought the first decree to court, resulting […]
Veganism determined a protected belief by Danish court
In a landmark decision, a municipal court in Denmark has determined that veganism falls under the protection of belief as outlined in Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Hjorring court was ruling on a lawsuit initiated by the Vegetarian Society of Denmark and recognised that acts denying access to plant-based foods […]
Backtracking on climate ambitions to hurt farmers
As the European Union gears up for the June 2024 elections, the future of the European Green Deal hangs in the ballot. The European Commission has taken steps that weaken the ambitions of the Green Deal and other key EU legislation. The recent dilution of environmental standards in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), underscores a […]
EU’s chief climate scientists recommend shift to plant-based diets ahead of Strategic Dialogue kick-off
The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change’s (ESABCC) recent report assesses more than 80 indicators to gauge progress towards EU climate neutrality. After last year’s SAPEA report, this is the second call from EU science advisors that the EU’s food policy is not aligned with climate and environmental goals. The Advisory Board’s findings are […]
Proposal to limit plant-based fish alternatives’ labelling shows Parliament is misguided, not consumers
The report contains two points that recommend limiting denominations for plant-based fish alternatives.
No more waffling, Belgian Presidency needs to walk the talk on a plant-based strategy
We recently welcomed the start of the Belgian Presidency to the European Union, an important period in legislative terms which will moreover coincide with the electoral campaign and European election. With the responsibility of leading Europe towards a set of potentially polarising elections, and advancing files such as the Protein Strategy, we raise the question: […]
2023: A Year In Review
As 2023 draws to a close, we take stock of some of the policy initiatives and outcomes that have defined the year, the challenges that we have faced, but also the successes. In this short 2023 recap, we have summarised some of the most important developments while also taking time to reflect on what 2024 […]
EU Agri-Food Days: Plant-based alternatives recognised as central to EU food landscape
The recently concluded EU Agri-Food Days 2023 brought together policymakers and stakeholders to discuss the future of agriculture and food production in the European Union. For the first time, the event showcased a general recognition that a move towards plant-based alternatives and sustainable food production is now undeniable. However, while progress is evident, more concrete […]
Fishy Hearing at the European Parliament
The European Vegetarian Union (EVU) has raised concerns and expressed exasperation following the recent hearing of the European Parliament Committee on Fisheries (PECH) about the use of fish-related terms for plant-based foods. The EVU, while acknowledging the importance of clear and accurate food labelling, emphasised the need to focus on encouraging environmental sustainability and promoting […]
Italy bans veggie “salami” and sparks debate on plant-based labelling once again
The European Vegetarian Union (EVU) is closely monitoring the recent developments in Italy, where the lower house of parliament has passed a law banning the use of cultivated meat products and the marketing of plant-based products using meat-related names such as “steak” and “salami”. This controversial move raises concerns about potential violations of EU law, […]
