The French Council of State has overturned an attempt by the government to ban the use of meat-related terms on plant-based food labels. The Council ruled that France cannot unilaterally impose such restrictions outside the framework of European Union law.

In February 2024, the French government sought to prohibit 21 terms commonly associated with meat and seafood, such as “steak” and “sausage,” from being used on vegetarian products, arguing the move was necessary to prevent consumer confusion. However, the decision aligns with an earlier ruling from the European Union Court of Justice, which determined that individual member states cannot set labeling regulations that affect the broader EU market.

Plant-based industry leaders welcomed the decision. Guillaume Dubois, CEO of HappyVore, a French plant-based meat company, remarked that the ruling reinforces the idea that “common sense, in the long run, always ends up winning.”

Despite the ruling, advocacy groups remain cautious. The European Union Court of Justice has previously indicated that labeling bans could be legal if a country establishes a legal definition for both meat and plant-based alternatives and applies the restrictions only to domestically produced goods. This leaves room for France to propose a revised ban that meets these criteria, potentially prolonging the debate over plant-based labeling. 

Related:Meat exports end 2024 with much to celebrate

Smithfield Foods and Humane Society resolve hog welfare lawsuit

The Humane Society of the United States and Smithfield Foods have reached a resolution in a lawsuit over hog welfare, bringing an end to a legal battle that began in 2021. HSUS sued Smithfield in D.C. Superior Court, alleging that the company’s marketing misled consumers by not fully disclosing its continued use of gestation crates despite promoting its transition to group housing.

During the course of the litigation, Smithfield updated its marketing materials and corporate sustainability reports to provide clearer information about its sow housing practices. The company now explicitly states that it continues to use gestation crates for the first four to six weeks of each breeding cycle before moving sows to group housing.

Following these transparency improvements, both parties agreed to end the lawsuit. The HSUS stated that it hopes to foster a more collaborative relationship with Smithfield to further advance animal welfare standards.

“We look forward to a new chapter in our relationship with Smithfield,” said Jonathan Lovvorn, HSUS senior vice president and chief counsel of animal protection law. “We will continue to work with the food industry, including grocers, restaurant chains and consumer goods companies committed to shifting their pork purchasing away from gestation crate operations.”

Related:Brazil, Singapore sign regionalization agreement to safeguard pork trade

Burgum confirmed as Interior Secretary

Former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Thursday as Secretary of the Interior, securing a 79-18 bipartisan vote. Burgum, a staunch advocate for U.S. energy production, will oversee the department responsible for managing public lands, natural resources and tribal relations.

Burgum’s confirmation was championed by North Dakota Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, who praised his leadership and commitment to expanding domestic energy production. Senate Majority Leader John Thune highlighted Burgum’s focus on restoring a multiple-use approach to federal land management, emphasizing the role of farmers, ranchers and landowners as conservation stewards.

The Department of the Interior, with its $18 billion budget and 70,000 employees, oversees agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service. Burgum, a billionaire businessman turned politician, served as North Dakota’s governor from 2016 to 2024 and was a vocal critic of Biden-era energy policies.

Related:Strong demand for U.S. beef, pork in yakiniku restaurants

Trump also appointed Burgum to lead the National Energy Council, where he will coordinate federal energy policy and have a seat on the National Security Council. Despite concerns over potential conflicts of interest related to his energy investments, Burgum has committed to divesting from oil and gas holdings to comply with ethics guidelines.

Burgum succeeds Deb Haaland, the first Native American to serve as Interior Secretary, and is expected to prioritize domestic energy expansion, land management reforms and tribal relations in his new role.