EU Parliament for Ban on Veggie "Burger" Designation

The planned changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) aim to address the challenges that European farmers increasingly face. They are intended to particularly reduce administrative burdens, which will benefit small farmers, and strengthen the competitiveness of farmers in global markets. Two amendments concerned the market position of plant-based products.

Austrian Deputies Skeptical About Ban on Veggie "Burger" Designation

According to the adopted amendment, the designations "steak, schnitzel, sausage, meatballs, hamburger, egg yolk, egg white" are to be allowed exclusively for products that contain meat. The amendment was introduced by the EPP deputy and rapporteur Céline Imart and accepted by the Agriculture Committee. Another amendment was introduced by the liberal faction, which only wanted to ban designations like "veggie chicken" that explicitly have meat products in the name. This did not find a majority.

The Austrian EU deputies expressed skepticism about the bans in advance: "Politicians in Parliament distrust the intelligence of consumers," said the Green EU deputy Thomas Waitz, shadow rapporteur for the simplified agricultural regulations, in a press briefing. "Consumers know that a vegan burger does not contain meat." He suspects attempts behind the proposals to "maintain the amount of meat and dairy products we produce." In his opinion, the goal should be a reduction.

The problem is not the "veggie burger," the problem is a mix with animal terms like "veggie chicken nugget," said EU parliamentarian and ÖVP EU agriculture spokesperson Alexander Bernhuber. He gives a clear no to the "veggie pig" and expresses his support for the liberal proposal. The farmer emphasizes that the texts voted on are about strengthening farmers towards fairer production.

SPÖ EU delegation leader Andreas Schieder stated in advance that he would not agree to the ban. Scouring milk is also not milk from a cow, he says. The Social Democrat views the whole initiative skeptically: People are dealing with high living costs, and "we are dealing with the question of what the veggie burger can be called." People would perceive this as "out of touch," he is convinced. NEOS EU deputy Anna Stürgkh sees an "absolutely unnecessary overregulation": "When I buy hot dogs, I know there's no dog in them." Vegetarian products are always labeled.

After establishing the Parliament's position, negotiations with the other EU institutions will now begin, at the end of which the laws will be adopted.

(APA/Red)

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