Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné, in a written answer on 29 June 2026, defended the current EU regulatory framework for cosmetic claims, stating that terms like 'plant keratin' are not automatically prohibited as long as consumers are not misled. The answer, responding to a question from MEPs Angéline Furet, André Rougé, Valérie Deloge, and Pierre Pimpie, clarifies that unlike the dairy sector—where terms such as 'milk' and 'cheese' are legally reserved for animal products under Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 and the TofuTown judgment—cosmetics are governed by Regulation (EU) No 655/2013, which does not reserve biological or technical terms exclusively for animal-derived substances. Instead, claims must comply with criteria of truthfulness, honesty, and evidence-based substantiation.
Séjourné emphasised that enforcement lies primarily with Member States' competent authorities on a case-by-case basis. They must assess whether claims suggesting plant-derived proteins are chemically identical to animal keratin or provide equivalent structural performance are adequately supported by evidence. The answer signals a policy orientation that maintains the status quo: no legislative change to align cosmetics with the dairy model, but a reliance on existing consumer protection rules. The Commission's stance favours market flexibility and innovation in plant-based cosmetics, benefiting producers of vegan and plant-derived ingredients, while placing the burden on national authorities to police misleading claims. Consumers gain from product diversity but may face confusion if claims are not rigorously checked. The answer contains no concrete proposals, deadlines, or commitments to revise the regulation, indicating that the Commission sees no immediate need for EU-level intervention. Institutional follow-up is likely limited to continued monitoring and potential guidance from the Commission on claim substantiation, but no legislative action is foreseen in the near term.