Researcher Network member, Marie Laffineur-Pauchet is a PhD student in Public Law, University of Montpellier, Institut de Droit Européen des Droits de l’Homme (France) and writes about her research into food and agricultural law in France and the implications for plant-based diets.
Last October 2018, after a year of vivid debate, a new food and agricultural Law [Loi pour l'équilibre des relations commerciales dans le secteur agricole et alimentaire et une alimentation saine, durable et accessible à tous], also known as Law Egalim, was finally adopted in France.
This article summarises the key measures of this law affecting farm animals as well as vegetarian and vegan diets.
A deceptive law for farm animals’ suffering:
Most deputies have been insensitive to farm animals’ suffering by voting against amendments aiming at improving their lot. An amendment prohibiting factory-farming was introduced but rejected during debates.
As a result, on almost 100 articles, only seven concern "animal welfare" and delay the adoption of truly effective measures:
• There is no concrete improvement in farm animals’ transport time or chicks / ducklings / goslings grinding, except for welfare assessments ... (article 69);
• Video monitoring may be carried out only on slaughterhouses’ voluntary basis (article 71);
• Finally, an "animal welfare officer" will be appointed by each slaughterhouse’s operator to ensure the “protection” of the animals during their slaughter, without any qualification, training or integrity requirements (article 70).
Some positive points for animal welfare:
• Animal welfare associations can now join criminal proceedings as a civil party (article 67);
• The offense of animal abuse extends to slaughter establishments and the transport of live animals (article 67);
• Penal sanctions for animal abuse are doubled: they now are of one year of imprisonment and a fine of €15,000 (article 67);
• The putting into production of new batteries for laying hens in cages is prohibited (article 68).
Towards vegan meals in public institutions:
The Egalim Law will oblige school catering services to offer a vegetarian menu at least once a week, a maximum of one year after the promulgation of the law. "This menu may be composed of animal or vegetable proteins" (article 24). It will be up to school restaurants to decide if the menu will be vegetarian or vegan.
In addition, public schools, universities, hospitals and prisons with more than 200 seats will have to "present to their governing bodies a multi-year plan for protein diversification including vegetable protein alternatives in the meals they offer" (article 24). In other words, these institutions must start thinking about including vegan alternatives in their menus.
This represents an important step in France, where different pieces of legislation, such as the Decree no 2011-1227 of 30 September 2011 obliges public institutions to serve animal products in public institutions, basing on the State’s official recommendations.
An education on the consequences of animal exploitation?
State educating policy should now "promote the acquisition during childhood and adolescence of a general food culture highlighting the cultural, environmental, economic and public health issues related to food choices" (article 45).
Students in agriculture, forestry, nature and territories will also be trained on animal welfare issues (article 72).
Thus, let’s hope that the youth will be educated on the disastrous consequences of animal agriculture for the planet, health and men and on the possibility of adopting a positive vegan lifestyle for all these points.
The non-prohibition of meaty denominations for vegetarian or vegan products:
The prohibition of the use of terms such as "steak", "sausage", "filet" or "bacon" for products containing a significant amount of plant material has been declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Council (Dec. no 2018-771 DC of 25/11/2018) because of the lack of connection with the original bill.
In a nutshell:
• MPs have been insensitive to the animal cause by rejecting almost all amendments aiming at improving farm animals’ conditions.
• The law has some positive points about animal welfare: animal welfare associations can now become civil parties to criminal proceedings; the offense of mistreatment extends to slaughter and transport establishments; the penalties for animal abuse are doubled; the production of new batteries for laying hens in cages is prohibited;
• A plant-based diet is gradually becoming a part of the law: Vegetarian or vegan menus will be offered once a week in school meals services; schools, universities, hospitals and prisons will have to present a plan of diversification;
• Children and adolescents should be educated on cultural, environmental, economic and public health issues related to food choices;
• Denominations such as "steak, sausage, bacon", etc. are not prohibited for vegetarian or vegan products.
Marie Laffineur-Pauchet is a member of The Vegan Society's Researcher Network and a PhD student in Public Law, University of Montpellier, Institut de Droit Européen des Droits de l’Homme (France).
SOURCES :
Loi n°2018-938 du 30 octobre 2018 pour l'équilibre des relations commerciales dans le secteur agricole et alimentaire et une alimentation saine, durable et accessible à tous, JORF n°0253 2018
Conseil Constitutionnel. Décision n° 2018-771 DC du 25 octobre 2018. JORF n°0253 2011Assemblée nationale. Dossier législatif. Agriculture : équilibre des relations commerciales dans le secteur agro-alimentaire. URL: Décret n° 2011-1227 du 30 septembre 2011 relatif à la qualité nutritionnelle des repas servis dans le cadre de la restauration scolaire. JORF n°0229 2011
Article adapted and translated from: egActu (2018, November). Loi Egalim : quelles avancées pour les animaux et l’alimentation végétale ?
The views expressed by our Research News contributors are not necessarily the views of The Vegan Society.
The views expressed by our Research News contributors are not necessarily the views of The Vegan Society.
