The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has officially published new regulations regarding producing, labelling and selling meat analogue products in South Africa. The regulations are published as Government Gazette Notice R. 6436 on July 18, 2025. The publication of the regulations coincides with prolonged discussions with stakeholders including the red meat industry.
Meat analogues also called as meat substitutes, mock meat or faux meat must now comply with clearly defined compositional or labeling standards. To be sold with descriptors such as “meat replacer,” “meat substitute,” or “plant-based protein”, a product must have a minimum of 9% protein to achieve a foundational protein content.
Labeling Standards and Product Naming Rules
The regulations are intended to protect consumers from deceptive marketing practices. Words like burgers, sausages, patties, nuggets and schnitzels are permitted in terms of shape or function but names must explicitly indicate the product’s plant-based origin. And, importantly, producers cannot include terms referencing animals species or animal morphology such as “beef-style,” “chicken-style,” “b*con,” or “chick’n.”
These limitations also fall under the Agricultural Product Standards Act (Act No. 119 of 1990) which guarantees full and transparent transparency to the public regarding any food products to which these requirements apply.
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Enforcement and Oversight Measures
Though a designated assignee has yet to be appointed, departmental inspectors will monitor compliance. The Food Safety Agency will monitor labeling standards for both processed meats and substitutes while the Border Management Authority will monitor compliance at points of entry for handled goods.
The department emphasized that the new guidelines provide valuable clarity to a growing sector. Consumers are expected to benefit from greater transparency and protection; while producers benefit from clear parameters for compliance that support industry growth and trust.
These regulations are an important milestone in formalizing South Africa’s plant based food sector providing a level playing field and protecting consumer confidence.
