The European Court of Justice has ruled that EU countries cannot stop food makers from using terms like “sausage” and “burger” on their plant-based products.

This decision came after the court looked at a 2022 rule from France that wanted to ban the use of meat-related terms for animal-free products, arguing that they might confuse buyers.

This rule was challenged by organizations such as the European Vegetarian Union, the Vegetarian Association of France, Proteines France, and Beyond Meat.

In 2023, these four organizations tried to change the French rule, claiming it didn’t agree with EU rules, which led to the issue being taken to the European Court of Justice.

The court confirmed that EU rules already protect consumers well, even when the expected ingredients in a product are completely different.

The decision pointed out that it does not stop a country from using consumer protection laws if the marketing is confusing.

France was the first in the EU to introduce rules against labels for plant-based meats, mentioning the need for more clarity as the popularity of vegetarian and vegan products grows.

Similarly, Italian lawmakers have also recently suggested banning the making and selling of lab-grown meat.

Rafael Pinto, the EU policy manager at the European Vegetarian Union, thanked the court for its final decision, stating it ensures buyers get clear and honest information about the products they buy.