Origin of all meat must be displayed by French restaurants and canteens
Rules previously applied only to beef
Information must include all details on the meat’s origin, including slaughtering
Maila Facchini/Shutterstock
The origin of more types of meat in certain dishes must be displayed on restaurant menus in France after a decree was published in the Journal Officiel yesterday (February 18).
The decree states that “the origin or provenance of pork, sheep and poultry meat” must be clearly indicated by all catering establishments.
This includes places of birth, rearing, and slaughter of the animals.
It applies to raw meat purchased to be cooked on the premises, not meat purchased that is already prepared or cooked.
The rules come into force from today (February 19), and are similar to a 2022 decree which also required the origin of these meat products to be displayed.
The 2022 decree ran until March 2024, however the new decree has no time limit, essentially making the requirement a continuous practice.
A similar rule has been in place for beef products since 2002, due to mad cow disease.
Sign of ‘quality’ produce
The move is a “significant step forward in terms of transparency on the origin of meat… [and provides] valuable support for our local producers,” said Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard in a press release.
Catering establishments – including restaurants, school canteens, and professional canteens for employees – risk fines of up to €3,000 if the information is not displayed correctly.
The move is backed by prime minister François Bayrou, who hails from the agrarian south-west of France from where many of the country’s most famous food products originate.
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His backing for the measure was based on principles supporting each group affected, the Agriculture Ministry said and will benefit:
Farmers who want to be able to make the most of the quality of their produce and inform consumers that the meat originates from France
Consumers who want to know from where their food originates, as French products are renowned for their quality and taste
Restaurateurs, who see French origin as both a guarantee of quality and a competitive advantage
It is hoped the new rule will address concern from farmers over various issues including the controversial EU-South America free trade agreement (Mercosur).
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