Government considering 'legalising' Vegan'
The UK Government have hinted they may consider legislation to legally define Vegan and Vegetarian products if the FSA’s current voluntary vegan code fails to increase consumer confidence and reduce instances of manufacturers falling foul of trading standards and trade description law.
In a response to the Foods for Life / MiV petition the Govt. said;
It may be possible for the UK to introduce national measures regarding labelling with the terms ‘vegetarian’ or ‘vegan’, subject to the notification and acceptance procedures set out in the Technical Standards Directive 98/34/EC. However, we wish to see whether voluntary criteria as set out in the (FSA) guidance published in 2006 are effective in improving labelling and increasing consumer confidence.
Full Govt response to petition
The Government are aware of consumers’ concern over honest labelling, particularly in regard to the use of the terms ‘vegetarian’ and ‘vegan’. After meeting with representatives of consumers, industry, enforcement, several religious groups and the Vegetarian and Vegan Societies and following a full public consultation, the Food Standards Agency published Guidance on the Use of the Terms ‘Vegetarian’ and ‘Vegan’ in Food Labelling in April 2006. The Guidance aims to assist manufacturers, retailers and caterers to use the terms in a consistent way, which in turn will make it easier for consumers to understand.
The guidance is best practice advice and it remains the decision of the manufacturer whether or not to make this declaration if their product fulfils the criteria in the guidance.
Any labelling of food or drink products as ‘vegetarian’ or ‘vegan’ is voluntary. However, consumers are protected by general legal provisions outlawing false or misleading labelling in UK legislation. The Food Safety Act 1990 (as amended), the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, and Article 16 of European Union Regulation 178/2002/EC must be complied with if such labelling is used.
It may be possible for the UK to introduce national measures regarding labelling with the terms ‘vegetarian’ or ‘vegan’, subject to the notification and acceptance procedures set out in the Technical Standards Directive 98/34/EC. However, we wish to see whether voluntary criteria as set out in the guidance published in 2006 are effective in improving labelling and increasing consumer confidence. The guidance will be subject to periodic review.
In answer to MiV / Foods for Life petition.
"The Government has confirmed there is no legal definition of ‘Vegan’ or ‘vegetarian’ in the EU or UK. We call upon the Govt to draw up a framework using the model of ‘Organic’ and The Indian Government’s experiences to create a legal definition for ‘vegan’ and ‘vegetarian’." November 2007
Tags: drink, energy, environment, Food