No more designations of “vegan sausage” or “vegetable steak”.
From the end of May, the use of terms related to meat for plant products can no longer be used, according to a new decree published this Tuesday in the Official Journal.
Professionals in the meat industry have been calling for this measure for a long time, which could create confusion among consumers.
This principle had already been included in the labeling law of June 10, 2020. A first decree was revoked by the Council of State in June 2022, forcing the government to rework the text.
Fines planned
This decree governs the use of names traditionally designating foodstuffs of animal origin for the description, marketing or promotion of foodstuffs based on plant proteins manufactured and marketed on French territory.
It establishes the list of terms whose use is prohibited for the designation of foodstuffs containing vegetable proteins such as fillet, rump steak, entrecôte, flank steak, steak, ham, etc. A second list authorizes the designation of foodstuffs of animal origin that may contain vegetable proteins as well as the maximum proportion of vegetable proteins. This is for example the case of blood sausage if it does not contain more than 1% of vegetable proteins (condiments, aromatics).
The sausage can contain up to 5% vegetable proteins.
This decree provides for sanctions in the event of an infraction with an administrative fine the amount of which cannot exceed 1,500 euros for a natural person and 7,500 euros for a legal entity.
In addition, this text leaves a deadline for entry into force of three months after its publication on Tuesday.
This period of time must give operators time to adapt their labeling, as well as the possibility of marketing the foodstuffs manufactured or labeled before its entry into force until stocks are exhausted, and at the latest one year from its publication. .