On October 8, 2025, the European Parliament approved—with 532 votes in favor, 78 against, and 25 abstentions—an amendment to the CMO Regulation (Common Market Organisation) introducing a package of measures aimed at strengthening transparency in food communication and protecting agri-food supply chains.

Among the most relevant updates is the ban—starting in 2028—on the use of terms traditionally associated with meat (“hamburger,” “sausage,” “steak,” “cutlet,” and similar) for plant-based or synthetic products that do not actually contain meat.

What “Meat Sounding” Means

The term meat sounding refers to the marketing practice of using meat-related names—such as “veggie burger,” “lentil sausage,” or “plant-based steak”—for foods containing no animal ingredients. This strategy, originally intended to evoke familiarity, shape, and function for consumers, has been heavily criticized by the livestock and agricultural sectors in recent years for causing confusion and devaluing the semantic meaning of meat-related terms.

Until now, meat-related designations could be used for plant-based products as long as the label clearly indicated their vegetable origin. A 2024 ruling by the EU Court of Justice confirmed that, in the absence of a specific legal designation, the use of common or descriptive names was permitted, provided it was not misleading.

The new amendment reverses this interpretation: terms linked to meat will henceforth be reserved exclusively for products containing animal meat.

Other Elements of the Approved Package

The Parliament’s action goes beyond a simple linguistic restriction. It also includes measures that will have tangible effects on the supply chain:

• Mandatory written contracts between farmers and operators along the chain, requiring consideration of production costs when setting prices.

• Preference for local and EU products in public procurement and canteens, to promote food sovereignty and support national supply chains.

• Extension of origin labeling requirements to all food products, not just primary ingredients, offering an additional guarantee of transparency for consumers.

However, the approved amendment is not yet law. The text must still be negotiated with the Council of the European Union—which represents national governments—through the so-called trilogue process, to reach a final version. According to current estimates, the regulation could enter into force between 2026 and 2028, allowing for a transitional period for businesses, packaging, and labeling adjustments.

Why This Measure Matters to ITA0039

For a certification body such as ITA0039 | 100% Italian Taste Certification by Asacert, the European vote is not just a political milestone but also an opportunity to strengthen the value of certification, Italian origin, and supply chain transparency:

• The ban on meat sounding underscores the strategic importance of protecting and enhancing the language, identity, and semantics of agri-food heritage—an area where authenticity certification becomes a powerful defensive tool.

• In a context where false “Italian sounding” products drain billions of euros each year from the Made in Italy sector—and where regions like Lombardy (the most affected) face estimated losses of €10.2 billion per year (Ambrosetti data)—reinforcing the semantic value of food terms helps weaken imitations.

• ITA0039 can now more effectively convey to its network of producers, certified restaurateurs, and stakeholders the importance of relying on objective protocols, traceability, and the correct use of product names—ensuring that “Italian” never becomes an empty term.

• Each certified restaurant, producer, or sales point becomes a stronghold of authenticity: with ITA0039’s support, it can act as an ambassador of clear, distinctive communication, standing against misleading or abusive uses of terminology.

A Cultural Choice as Much as an Economic One

Fake Made in Italy is not just about economic losses—it’s about identity. Every time an “Italian sounding” product deceives consumers, it erodes trust and devalues the efforts of those who work with transparency, passion, and respect for the rules.

Through the ITA0039 certification protocol, we have established objective criteria to safeguard authenticity—not just a label, but a cultural and commercial network uniting producers, consumers, and restaurateurs in pursuit of a common goal: protecting Italian identity.

At this crucial stage, the new European decision represents an opportunity—a strong signal aligned with our institutional mission. Because every authentic dish, every transparent label, and every precisely used word helps tell the story of the real Italy.