Aug 5, 2026 - Foods
Plant-based alternatives: New rules for meat-related designations in Regulation (EU) 2026/1739
From August 19, 2029, new regulations for the use of meat-related designations will apply in the European Union. The aim of the regulation is to better protect the terms "meat" and traditional designations for meat products and to safeguard consumers from misleading product names.[1]
In the future, designations traditionally reserved for meat products will generally be reserved for products of animal origin. This concerns both the term "meat" and designations used in connection with a species, such as "beef...", "pork..." or "chicken...".
Plant-based alternative products are generally no longer allowed to use these designations unless there is an expressly permitted exception.
At the same time, the European Commission is granted the authority to establish a positive list of exceptions. This list can include traditional designations whose use for non-meat products has been established for a long time and does not cause confusion among consumers.
Further information can also be found in the current newsletter of cibus Rechtsanwälte.
Companies that produce or distribute plant-based alternative products should review their product names, packaging, and marketing materials early. Since only permissible designations may be used after the cutoff date, timely adjustment of labeling and monitoring of the exception list yet to be published by the European Commission is recommended.
Do you also have plant-based alternative products where you need a labeling review?
In our Tentamus laboratories, we regularly conduct these reviews. We provide you with fast and reliable results.
For questions, our customer advisors are happy to assist you.
Sources:
- https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L_202601739
- https://www.cibus-recht.de/fleischbezeichnungsschutz-im-amtsblatt-der-eu-veroeffentlicht/