The European Parliament has approved a package of reforms aimed at 'strengthening farmers’ position in the food supply chain,' including introducing stricter rules on plant-based meat alternative labelling across the European Union.

MEPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the measures, with 560 votes supporting the legislation, 75 against, and 25 abstentions.

In the plant-based food and beverage category, of the most closely watched aspects of the reform concerns product naming and labelling.

The legislation establishes a formal definition of meat as 'edible parts of animals' and reserves a wide range of traditional meat terms exclusively for products derived from livestock. Designations including 'steak,' 'bacon,' 'sirloin,' 'ribeye,' 'chicken,' 'pork' and 'lamb' will no longer be permitted for products that do not contain meat.

The restriction also explicitly applies to lab-grown and cell-cultivated products, which will be prohibited from using meat-related terminology within the EU market.

It marks the next development following an earlier vote in October 2025, where members of the European Parliament voted to restrict the labelling of plant-based products with meaty words such as ‘burger’ and ‘sausage’.

Supporters argue that the measure will improve transparency and help consumers make informed purchasing decisions, while critics question its implications for alternative protein innovation and marketing.

Before the reforms can take effect, the provisional agreement must receive formal approval from the Council of the European Union.

The legislation forms part of a broader effort by EU policymakers to address concerns over farmer profitability and supply chain imbalances. It follows proposals introduced by the European Commission in December 2024 to revise the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets (CMO) framework and strengthen farmers’ bargaining power throughout the food system.