The recent ban on vegan cheese in Turkey has been deemed by the TVD as a violation of rights.
The recent ban on vegan cheese in Turkey has been deemed by the Vegan Association of Turkey (TVD) as a violation of rights for both consumers and manufacturers of plant-based products.
The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has recently banned the production and sale of vegan cheese alternatives that resemble dairy cheese. This is according to updated regulations in the Turkish Codex Food Regulation. The ministry has stated that cheese-like products cannot be produced using vegetable oil or other food ingredients; “Products giving the impression of [dairy] cheese cannot be produced using vegetable/plant-based oil or other food ingredients.” Even vacuum packaging, which evokes traditional dairy cheese, is misleading to consumers. This move has resulted in fines for vegan cheese producers and the withdrawal of vegan cheese products from the market. The Vegan Association of Turkey (TVD) has filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, considering the ban a violation of consumer and manufacturer rights across the country.
TVD has claimed that the ban on plant-based products violates fundamental rights and freedoms, and they have launched a Change.org petition and social media campaign with the hashtag #LiftBanOnVeganCheese to show public support. Despite previous requests to meet with the ministry to discuss the legislation, no steps have been taken to revoke the ban. This has led TVD to sue the Council of States. TVD argues that the ban prevents consumers from accessing vegan products without providing constructive suggestions and solutions, which interferes with individual lifestyles. “In the face of this unprecedented ban, the plant-based cheese manufacturing companies that have already invested in this field of work, created production facilities and employment opportunities, stockpiled raw materials, and exported products are now being punished,” the group writes on the Change.org petition, which has received more than 15,900 signatures.
Journalist Nevşin Mengü interviews with TVD Founder and President Ebru Arıman on the vegan cheese ban in Turkey (Turkish)
The war on vegan food labels
The ban on vegan cheese in Turkey is just one example of a growing trend of bans and lawsuits surrounding plant-based and vegan labeling and production. France recently implemented a ban on terms like “steak” and “burger” on plant-based products, a move supported by animal agriculture lobby groups in the country. In 2020, the European Union (EU) rejected a similar proposal to restrict meat-related terms on vegan products, despite support from the meat lobby. In 2021, the EU also rejected proposed legislation from dairy lobby groups to restrict dairy-free labels further. The dairy industry has been fighting dairy-free products in the US. The Dairy Pride Act legislation aimed at limiting plant-based products' terms, has been circulating in Congress for several years.