EU wide label law for vegans

JP · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 10:07 am

http://www.vegsoc.org/political/labelintro.html

Quote:

MEPs Agrees to Better Vegetarian and Vegan Labelling

On Wednesday 16 June 2010, the European Union voted in favour of better labelling for vegetarians and vegans throughout Europe. Part of a huge food labelling bill, the vegetarian and vegan labelling amendment was based on the UK Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) “Guidance on the use of the terms ‘vegetarian’ and ‘vegan’ in food labelling”, paving the way for correct vegetarian and vegan labelling to be enshrined in law throughout Europe.

The FSA guidelines were introduced in 2006 following discussions with the Vegetarian Society and others. Although working reasonably well here in the UK, the guidelines do not have the full legal backing that this vote ensures. The amendment is even better news in many European countries which have previously had no formally agreed meaning for the terms vegetarian and vegan.

Manufacturers will have three years (five for small companies) to comply.

this could be promising?

xrodolfox · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:36 pm

This could be awesome.

downhillingdemon · **Joined:** Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:45 am **Posts:** 483

This could be a nightmare

Talyn · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 6:57 pm

The fact it's getting talked about is good. Would be better if they just left out the whole vegetarian part of it. I don't need a label on the pack of quorn telling me it contains egg

benzilla · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:27 pm

This could be very promising, but there seems little incentive to label what's not included then what is? i.e. allergy sufferers would sue if there were nuts etc... in an item and not labelled. But the only incentive to say what's not in there would be slightly increased purchase opportunities for veg*ns.

Also what about 'traces of', most vegans have no problems with this, but it will come down to a legal definition won't it?

vCLaW · **Posted:** Tue Jun 22, 2010 12:10 am

Found some more details about this here, including links to the full 100 page report!: http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=56620
So the official definitions are:

Quote:

6a. The term ‘vegetarian’ should not be applied to foods that are, or are made from or with the aid of products derived from animals that have died, have been slaughtered, or animals that die as a result of being eaten. The term ‘vegan’ should not be applied to foods that are, or are made from or with the aid of, animals or animal products (including products from living animals).

I think the main thing this law will do is make it illegal to label things as vegan when they are not. It does not mean that manufacturers have to label food as labelled as vegan/vegetarian.

XkillerX · **Posted:** Sat Jul 24, 2010 9:30 pm

The Universal Lieben cultists' coverup organisation cut a deal with some cookie factories to label their non vegan products "vegetarian" in this here imaginery countryland.

I tried asking them factories isn't that completely unnecessary, pointing out the obvious and just fucking ignorant but they wouldn't reply.

EU wide label law for vegans

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