Sweden, latest EU country to require origin labelling for meat in restaurants
05 March 2025
Sweden has become the latest of five EU countries to require origin labelling for meat served in restaurants. The measure entered into force on 1 March, with Sweden joining Finland, Slovakia, Estonia, and France, which had already introduced this legal requirement in the past. The measure seeks to improve the information consumers get about the produce served in restaurants.
Although labels indicating the country of origin are compulsory for meat in the internal EU market, the existing provisions do not apply to restaurants.
This measure could facilitate an increase in local consumption of meat and contribute to shortening food chains. SAFE fully supports this goal and encourages the European Commission to explore the possibility of an EU regulation in this regard, as proposed by Austria and Germany.
The Vision for the Future of Agriculture and Food, presented in February by Commissioner Christophe Hansen already mentioned the intention to propose an extension of the country of origin labelling and to promote it more intensely.
Eight EU countries – France, Finland, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, and Spain – have their own national schemes on origin labelling for specific foods.
