NB. The APPG is currently de-registered as of April 2024 pending a decision on reformation post-election.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Vegetarianism and Veganism provides a forum for discussing issues around vegetarianism and veganism. The group is funded by The Vegan Society and Vegetarian for Life. The Vegan Society serves as secretariat.
How to Get Involved
We very much welcome attendees with an interest in vegetarianism, veganism, or special diets; public health; the environment; and animal welfare. Meetings will usually take the form of presentations by speakers and then a Q&A with the floor. However, parliamentarians do have priority in asking questions.
How the Group Works
We hope that meetings will be attended by a range of parliamentarians and stakeholders. Potential topics for discussion include food and medicine labelling, vegetarianism and veganism as protected beliefs, impact of diet on climate change, and institutional catering provisions. This is not an official website of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its committees. All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed in these web pages are those of the group.
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Previous Meetings
Vegonomics: Celebrating the value of British vegan business, 17 January 2024
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Vegetarianism and Veganism (VegAPPG), sponsored by The Vegan Society and Vegetarian for Life, held its annual Parliamentary reception to celebrate the economic, environmental, and ethical benefits of the plant-based sector as well as the opportunities it offers to the British economy during Veganuary and beyond. The event was a resounding success with the room at full capacity and well-attended by parliamentarians. The attendees also included representatives from industry leaders such as ASDA, Quorn, Tesco and Planted, as well as celebrity guest speakers including TV personality and founder of vegan brand Candy Kittens, Jamie Laing, and the inspiring world-record-breaking athlete Fiona Oakes. The event showcased the vibrant range of vegan products available in the UK from Vegan Trademark holders such as Walkers, Misfits, Clearspring, Crack’d, Danone, Clive’s Pies, One Planet Pizza, Eat Real Snacks and Lola’s Cupcakes.
Speakers
- Christina Rees MP, Chair of VegAPPG
- Steve Hamon, CEO, The Vegan Society
- Jamie Laing and Edward Williams, Co-founders, Candy Kittens
- Fiona Oakes, an elite marathon- and ultra- runner, four Guinness World Records holder
- Toni Vernelli, Head of Policy and Communications, Veganuary
Documents from the meeting
Parliamentary Launch of Vegan Society’s Catering for Everyone Report
The meeting introduced The Vegan Society’s new report: ‘Catering for Everyone: How far are councils catering to Vegans?’ The report looked at how far councils across the UK are taking steps to be inclusive of veganism, providing plant-based options on their menus or acting to reduce meat and dairy consumption to meet environmental targets. Using new data gathered from sending Freedom of Information Act requests to 209 local authorities, The Vegan Society has created a heat map which shows which areas are leading the way and which are falling behind.
The session heard from some leading councils and other stakeholders on the importance of the issue and how we can improve public sector catering in a way that is inclusive, environmentally friendly and cost effective.
Speakers
- Claire Ogley, Head of Policy, Campaigns and Research at The Vegan Society.
- Councillor Ria Patel, Equalities and Diversities Spokesperson for Croydon Council.
- Councillor Marisa Heath, Cabinet member for Environment at Surrey County Council and Founder of the Plant-Based Food Alliance.
- Councillor Ian Middleton, Oxfordshire County Council.
- Amanda Woodvine, Chief Executive, Vegetarian for Life.
Documents from the meeting
Improving medicine labelling and moving away from animal-derived ingredients July 2023
The session heard from a range of speakers including clinicians, patients, and professionals working in medicines labelling and development, exploring why clear labelling of medical products which use animal derived ingredients is important to the vegan & vegetarian community, and members of many of the UK’s largest faith groups. The event also explored what action can be taken to encourage the use of non-animal derived alternatives.
Speakers:
- Paul Fleming, pharmacist and Technical Director for the British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA). Paul has previously worked for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
- Dr Ishani Rao, a trainee GP at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.
- Evie Sier, a vegan patient who suffers from a heart condition which requires regular medication.
- Moussa Haddad, Head of Research and Policy at Vegetarian for Life, about the importance of respecting the protected beliefs of vegans.
- Yasmin Akter, Community Engagement Manager at the British Islamic Medical Association.
Documents from the meeting
VegAPPG Hairdressing APPG joint event April 2023
Joint Meeting: All Party Parliamentary Group for Hairdressing, Barbering and Cosmetology and All-Party Parliamentary Group on Vegetarianism and Veganism.
Documents from the meeting
Plant-based meals for climate-friendly catering
APPG Meeting: Climate friendly catering – YouTube
Documents from the meeting
Letters from Officers of the APPG to UK Ministers
Documents from the meeting
- Letter to Minister of Care and Mental Health (UK), Gillian Keegan MP, 25 January 2022
- Reply from Minister of State for Care, Helen Whately MP, 28 December 2022
- Letter to Minister for Health (Northern Ireland), Robin Swann MLA, 2 March 2022
- Letter to Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care (Scotland), Kevin Stewart MSP, 2 March 2022
- Reply from Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care (Scotland), Kevin Stewart MSP, 5 April 2022
- Letter to Minister for Health and Social Services (Wales), Eluned Morgan MS, 2 March 2022
- Reply from Deputy Minister for Social Services (Wales), Julie Morgan MS, 5 April 2022
Letters from Officers of the APPG to Care Regulators
Documents from the meeting
- Letter to Care Quality Commission (England) Chief Executive, Iain Trenholm, 25 January 2022
- Reply from Care Quality Commission (England) Chief Executive, Ian Trenholm, 13 April 2022
- Letter to Care Inspectorate (Scotland) CEO Edith Macintosh, 2 March 2022
- Reply from Care Inspectorate (Scotland) Chief Executive, Jackie Irvine, 5 December 2022
- Letter to Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (Northern Ireland) Chief Executive, Briege Donaghy, 2 March 2022
- Reply from Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (Northern Ireland) Chief Executive, Briege Donaghy, 28 March 2022
(Closed meeting) A strategy for protecting dignity through diet in 2022 and beyond
Joint letter to Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, from the officers of the APPG
Documents from the meeting
Out of the EU, can the UK now lead on more inclusive medicine development and labelling?
Documents from the meeting
Joint letters to George Eustice, Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, from the officers of the APPG
Documents from the meeting
Is food security an issue for vegetarians and vegans?
Veganism in the workplace
Documents from the meeting
Inquiry: Respect for religious and philosophical beliefs while eating in care
Documents from the meeting
Veggie Vurger, anyone? EU proposal to restrict plant-based descriptions
Documents from the meeting
Eating away at climate change with negative emissions: Repurposing UK agricultural land to meet climate goals
A celebration of the growth of veganism and the vegan market
Joint letter to Minister for Women and Equalities, Penny Mordaunt, from the officers of the APPG
Documents from the meeting
Public procurement: do public authorities have a duty to supply vegan food?
Documents from the meeting
Joint letter to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove, from the officers of the APPG
Documents from the meeting
A celebration of the growth of veganism and the vegan market
Annual General Meeting Jul 2017
Institutional catering provisions for vegetarians and vegans
Documents from the meeting
Joint letter to Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, from the officers of the APPG
Documents from the meeting
Annual General Meeting Jan 2017
What does Brexit mean for vegetarians and vegans?
Documents from the meeting
- Stephen Pugh: the future of guidance for vegetarian and vegan labelling (PowerPoint)
- Stephen Pugh: the future of guidance for vegetarian and vegan labelling (notes)
- Dr Kinesh Patel: labelling of medicines with 'lifestyle choices'
- Jeanette Rowley: veganism as a protected belief (PowerPoint)
- Jeanette Rowley: veganism as a protected belief (notes)