The regulations were gazetted on 18 July 2025 (Notice R. 6436) and follow extensive consultations with stakeholders, including the red meat industry.

Meat analogues – also known as meat substitutes, mock meat, or imitation meat – are products made from non-meat ingredients designed to mimic the taste, texture, and appearance of meat. The newly published rules provide clear definitions and labelling standards for these products.

The regulations do allow meat analogues to be sold under familiar product names such as burgers, sausages, mince, schnitzels, and nuggets, provided that labelling clearly indicates their non-meat nature. However, terms that reference animal species or specific meat cuts – such as “beef-style” or “chick’n” – are now explicitly prohibited on packaging.

Long-awaited clarity offered

In addition, products labelled as meat substitutes or plant-based proteins must contain a minimum of 9% protein. This compositional standard aims to ensure nutritional consistency and transparency for consumers.

Enforcement of the regulations will be handled by departmental inspectors, with the Food Safety Agency and the Border Management Authority overseeing compliance for domestic and imported products respectively.

The Department of Agriculture says the regulations offer long-awaited clarity for the industry and improved protection for consumers against misleading labelling. The move is also expected to boost confidence in South Africa’s growing plant-based food sector.

OFM Agri/Statement cg