The European Parliament has voted to ban lab-grown and plant-based products from using traditional meat terms. Words like “steak,” “sirloin,” and “bacon” will be reserved exclusively for animal products. The rules, adopted with 560 votes in favour, are part of a broader package aimed at strengthening farmers’ incomes.
The regulation responds to years of mounting pressure from EU farmers. Across the continent, they have taken to the streets to protest falling incomes, unfair contracts, and competition from cheaper imports. The Commission put forward the proposal in December 2024, seeking to redress a balance of power that has long tilted against producers.
Parliament backed it decisively: 560 votes in favour, 75 against, and 25 abstentions. The provisional agreement still needs Council approval before entering into force.
Stronger hand for farmers
The new rules require food prices to better reflect actual production costs, with a direct impact on farmers’ incomes. Member states will also have to publish online benchmarks for use in contracts, a move designed to bring more clarity to a sector where pricing has long favoured the stronger side.
Producer organisations gain new powers too. They will be able to negotiate directly with buyers, and the new rules will stop buyers from bypassing them to deal with individual producers instead. The change addresses a longstanding complaint from farmers, who have often found themselves squeezed between large retailers and processors with far greater bargaining power.
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From labels to dairy
The regulation also clarifies when producers can use the terms “fair” or “equitable” on their products. To qualify, a product must demonstrably contribute to rural community development or support farmers’ organisations and cooperatives.
The dairy sector gets its own new protections. Written contracts will become mandatory for milk producers, with opt-out provisions for price indicators and revision clauses. The sector has been under particular pressure in recent years, with volatile commodity prices squeezing margins across the bloc.
A victory for farmers
Rapporteur Céline Imart (EPP/FRA) called the vote “a major victory for our farmers,” citing stronger market position, legal protections, and cultural heritage. She also described the meat labelling provisions as “an undeniable success for traditional livestock production.”
“Contracts will now guarantee them a fair place in the supply chain, while a mandatory mediation mechanism will protect their income during buyer disputes,” she said.
Terms such as ‘steak’ and ‘liver’ are now strictly reserved for livestock products. — Céline Imart, Rapporteur, European People’s Party (FRA)
“Terms such as ‘steak’ and ‘liver’ are now strictly reserved for livestock products, to prevent unfair competition and reward unique agricultural know-how. Finally, the text explicitly bans lab-grown or cell-based products from using the designation ‘meat,’ taking a decisive step towards preserving our agricultural and food heritage,” Ms Imart added.
The Commission proposed the reform in December 2024, responding to years of pressure from EU farmers. The provisional agreement still needs Council approval before entering into force. The proposal strengthens farmers’ position in the food supply chain, improves contracts, and supports producer organisations. It also encourages voluntary social sustainability schemes and connects to a separate regulation on cross-border cooperation against unfair trading practices.
