The Vegan Society of Aotearoa and the New Zealand Vegetarian Society have submitted a petition calling for clearer labelling of vegetarian and vegan products in New Zealand. This comes in response to the lack of legislation defining what counts as vegan or vegetarian, leading to consumer confusion. The societies are advocating for standardised, enforceable labelling requirements to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions and avoid misleading labels.

With the rise of plant-based diets in New Zealand, the need for clear regulations on vegetarian and vegan labelling is becoming increasingly important. The societies emphasize the importance of transparency in food labelling, ensuring that products labelled as 'vegan' or 'vegetarian' do not contain any animal products or by-products. They aim to eliminate ambiguity and promote ethical, informed choices for consumers when purchasing vegetarian and vegan products.