In a written answer to a parliamentary question from MEP Sebastian Everding (The Left), Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi confirmed that the European Commission has deprioritised the adoption of implementing acts defining and standardising voluntary food information on suitability for vegetarians and vegans, as required under Article 36(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. Instead, the Commission is focusing on harmonising rules on the provision of information about unintentional and possible allergen presence, a move aligned with recommendations from a 2024 European Court of Auditors report. The decision leaves consumers reliant on fragmented private certification schemes and places responsibility on food business operators and national enforcement authorities, raising concerns about consumer protection and transparency.
The answer responds to a question submitted on 3 March 2026 by Everding, who highlighted the lack of harmonised definitions and standards for vegan and vegetarian labelling, citing the 2023 death of EU citizen Anna Bellisario in Milan after consuming a product marketed as 'vegan' that contained cow milk. Everding asked about the stage of preparatory work, the timeline for public consultations, and whether the Commission plans to establish a mandatory EU-wide vegan certification scheme.
No concrete proposals or deadlines Varhelyi's answer contains no concrete proposals, numerical targets, or deadlines for the implementing act on vegan/vegetarian information. He merely reiterates existing legal obligations: that voluntary information must be accurate and not misleading, that allergens must be declared in the ingredients list, and that food business operators bear primary responsibility for compliance. The Commission notes that no legal deadline exists for the implementing act and states that it has 'currently prioritised' work on allergen cross-contamination labelling instead.
Policy orientation and institutional follow-up The policy orientation is one of regulatory caution and prioritisation of allergen safety over standardising plant-based diet claims. The Commission signals that it will follow the Court of Auditors' recommendations, which criticised the current labelling landscape as confusing for consumers. This suggests that any future action on vegan/vegetarian definitions will be delayed until allergen rules are harmonised. No timeline for public consultations or legislative proposals was given. The European Parliament may choose to press the Commission further, but no immediate institutional follow-up is expected.
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