No New Guidelines for Vegetarian Labels in Belgium

Belgium will not be introducing any new guidelines regarding the labeling of vegetarian products. This decision stems from a lack of consensus among stakeholders and political figures, as indicated by Federal Minister of Economy, Pierre-Yves Dermagne.

In 2020, a working group was formed to address the issue of product names such as 'vegetarian chicken' or 'vegan steak.' The initiative arose after a complaint from the General Farmers' Syndicate (ABS) and the Federation of Meat Producers and Other Proteins (Fenavian), advocating for a ban on names that refer to the animal products for which the plant-based alternatives are intended. The working group included representatives from various interest groups, including the General Farmers' Syndicate, the Federation of Meat Producers, Farmers' Union, Union of Butchers, Bacon Makers, and Caterers, and representatives from the plant-based sector (ProVeg).

Arguments

Mark Wulfrancke, policy officer at ABS, emphasized that it is in the interest of producers of plant-based alternatives to use unique names to ensure consumer realism. On the other hand, some feared that strict rules would hinder the accessibility and promotion of vegetarian food, especially in the context of the fight against climate change, as noted by Green Party parliamentarian Barbara Creemers.

Lack of Consensus

While there seemed to be some agreement at one point, particularly among the industry, including multinational corporations, they did not agree with the proposed guidelines. The same applied to political representatives, with disagreements among Minister Dermagne, Federal Agriculture Minister David Clarinval, and Secretary of Consumer Protection Alexia Bertrand.

Back to Square One

Efforts to reach a common ground have not yielded results. The current stance remains unchanged. Mark Wulfrancke points out that discussions about the names of vegetarian products are underway at the European level, and it remains to be seen which direction that process will take.

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