French plant-based producers to cop up to $12,500 fine for 'steak' label

French supermarket shelves will soon look a little different with the French Government introducing new naming restrictions for plant-based products.

In a decree released on Tuesday, it was announced that certain meat-related terms will be banned to describe plant-based mock meats and products.

Twenty one words including "steak", "ham" and "butcher" will be outlawed from plant-based packaging with the changes coming to effect in three months time.

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Those found violating the new regulations will face hefty fines, with the decree outlining fines of up to €1,500 ($2,500) for individuals and €7,500 ($12,500) for companies.

Producers, however, have been granted a one-year grace period to change existing products.

Formally proposed in September last year, the change comes after heavy political pressure from the French farming community

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With the meat industry claiming that the advertising of plant-based products may be misleading, critics argue that this is simply a ploy to disadvantage meat-free competitors, TIME reports.

The new regulations also only apply to French manufactured products creating an advantage for foreign competitors.

French Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal took to X (formerly Twitter) to share news of the decree stating "it was a request from our breeders".

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The response to the news was divided with individuals taking to the comment section of Attal's post to express their varied views.

"That's good!" one person commented.

"A totally absurd measure," commented another.

This debate is not unique to France with various other countries having introduced similar regulations over the years. The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand are among those countries.