The Vegan Society
Budget
€25 — €0
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
3
0.3 FTE
EU Grants
None
Mission & Goals
The Vegan Society is both a Charity (registered in England, Wales and Scotland) and a Company Limited by Guarantee. Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude – as far as is possible and practicable – all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the The charity’s objects (‘Objects’) are .. : 4. (a) To further knowledge of and interest in sound nutrition and in veganism and the vegan method of agriculture as a means of increasing the potential of the earth to the physical, moral and economic advantage of humankind. (b) To relieve elderly vegans who are in conditions of need. environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.
EU Legislative Interests
- Labelling of meat substitutes, compromise amendment 41: https://www.vegansociety.com/sites/default/files/uploads/downloads/EU%20Letter.pdf and https://www.vegansociety.com/sites/default/files/Open%20Letter%20to%20AGRI%20MEPs%20on%20PB%20denoms_July19_signed.pdf - European standards on voluntary labelling of food: https://www.vegansociety.com/sites/default/files/uploads/downloads/Safe%20document.pdf - CAP reform and Farm to Fork strategy: https://www.vegansociety.com/sites/default/files/Grow%20Green%20EU%20Policy%20Briefing%20.pdf We are members of SAFE Food Advocacy Europe and work with them to further knowledge and understanding of the benefits of a plant-based food and farming system. Whilst we are an organisation registered in England & Wales, and Scotland, we have members in Europe and represent businesses and manufacturers in Europe.
Communication Activities
Our Grow Green project outlines the public health, environmental, ethical and other benefits of transitioning away from animal agriculture and towards plant-protein agriculture. We brief on this topic with policy recommendations relating to CAP reform. We hosted a conference in Brussels in partnership with SAFE Food Advocacy Europe. Our International Vegan Rights Network brings together legal experts from around the world to further the rights of vegans. https://www.vegansociety.com/get-involved/international-rights-network We will be hold virtual and in-person conferences, and outcomes are distributed to relevant EU policy makers. We work on the cross-overs between human rights and equality, State obligations, and sustainable healthy food through our public sector catering project, Catering for Everyone. We produced, 'Planting Value in Our Food System', a food systems report in conjunction with the University of Sunderland. This was published in 2021 and distributed to relevant EP committee members. We work on the impoverishment crisis with our Live Vegan for Less programme.
Interests Represented
Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members
Member Of
Ecotricity/Green Britain – One of the three main sustainability goals of Ecotricity is food, and The Vegan Society has played an important role in its NGO-corporate Green Britain Partnership coalition since its inception in 2013. SAFE – The Brussels-based Safe Food Advocacy Europe (SAFE) is a consumer safety lobbying organisation. We contribute to the vegan working group reviewing EU food labelling and promoting vegan organic agriculture in Europe. Plant-based Food Alliance UK - we are a member of the UK alliance promoting a transition to a plant-based food system.
Organisation Members
BDA – British Dietetic Association – the UK Association of Dietitians. VON – The Vegan Organic Network.
Additional Information
We do not have an office in the EU, and therefore spend very limited amounts staff, events, membership, publication, travel, or similar
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.