Highlights - Public hearing - Committee on Fisheries

On 29 November 2023, the Committee on Fisheries held a public hearing entitled "Improving the Labelling Legislation of Vegetarian and Vegan Imitations of Fish Products". As consumer interest for vegetarian and vegan options continues to rise, ensuring accurate and transparent labelling is essential for consumer trust and informed choices.

This panel discussion aims to address the regulatory framework surrounding the labelling of plant-based substitutes of fish products and its impacts on the fisheries sector. An inadequate regulatory framework on labelling of plant-based substitutes for fish products risks harming the fisheries sector by misdirecting consumer choices, undermining fair competition, and eroding trust in the authenticity of seafood products. It could therefore threaten the economic and environmental sustainability of the fisheries industry. The public hearing intends to promote a debate about clarity, fairness, and sustainability in the market of plant-based fish-substitutes from the perspective of the Common Fisheries Policy of the EU.