Politics · United Kingdom · 4 hrs ago
UK-EU food rules could restrict meat-style names on vegetarian snacks
The UK is planning to follow future EU food and farming rules under a proposed deal to ease food exports to Europe.
The deal is due to be signed at a UK-EU summit in Brussels on November 20.
EU rules would bar 31 meat-related words on vegetarian and vegan products, including “bacon,” “chicken” and “steak.”
That could affect products such as smoky bacon crisps and chicken-flavour noodles unless manufacturers change their names or recipes.
Manufacturers would have three years to clear existing stocks before the restrictions take effect, and the rules would apply even to firms that do not trade with the EU.
Andy Burnham says easier exports could add up to 0.4 per cent to UK GDP, or £12 billion a year, but a separate analysis disputes that estimate.
Critics warn EU alignment could cost the UK £73 billion over time by limiting its choices on regulation and harming trade beyond Europe.
A planned EU ban on meat-based descriptions for vegetarian and vegan foods could affect products such as smoky bacon crisps, steak-flavour crisps and chicken Pot Noodles.
The UK is expected to align with future EU food and farming rules under a proposed deal due to be signed at a UK-EU summit in Brussels on November 20.
The EU rules would bar 31 meat-related words, including chicken, bacon, pork and steak, from descriptions of vegetarian and vegan products.
Manufacturers would have three years to clear existing stocks before the ban takes effect.
Andy Burnham says easing food and farming exports could add up to 0.4 per cent of UK GDP, while a Growth Commission analysis disputes the expected benefits and warns of potential long-term costs.
- Who
- The UK government and EU are involved in the proposed rules; manufacturers of vegetarian and vegan products could be affected.
- What
- A proposed EU ban would restrict meat-based descriptions on vegetarian and vegan products. The UK is expected to follow future EU food and farming rules under a proposed deal.
- When
- The UK-EU deal is due to be signed on November 20. Manufacturers would have three years to clear existing stocks before the ban takes effect.
- Where
- The rules would apply to firms regardless of whether they trade with the EU; the proposed deal is due to be signed in Brussels.
- Why
- The EU says the restrictions are intended to enhance transparency and end consumer confusion. The UK government is seeking easier food and farming exports to the EU.
UK government and deal supporters
Growth Commission and deal critics
Economic impact
UK government and deal supporters
Andy Burnham says easing food and farming exports could add up to 0.4 per cent of UK GDP.
Growth Commission and deal critics
The Growth Commission says the estimate is based on flawed assumptions and warns that regulatory alignment could cost the UK £73 billion in the long run.
EU food-name restrictions
UK government and deal supporters
The proposed rules are intended to enhance transparency and end consumer confusion.
Growth Commission and deal critics
Mark Francois criticises the prospect of EU rules affecting what British products can be called.
The UK-EU deal is due to be signed at a summit in Brussels.
Manufacturers would have had three years to clear existing stocks before the ban takes effect.
- Restricted words
- 31 meat-related words, including chicken, bacon, pork and steak
- Stock-clearance period
- Three years
- Proposed summit
- Brussels, November 20
- Burnham's GDP estimate
- Up to 0.4 per cent
- Growth Commission warning
- £73 billion in potential long-term costs
1 source
What people are saying
When 17.4 million UK citizens voted to leave the EU, it wasn't so Brussels could subsequently tell us what to put in a Walkers crisp packet.
If something can be done to add 0.4 per cent to British GDP, that should be pursued very vigorously, and that's what I'm doing.
Quite simply, this EU reset is being sold to the British people on the back of flawed assumptions and bogus calculations.