The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has initiated a comprehensive two-year research programme aimed at facilitating the approval of cell-based meat products.
On March 10, the regulator announced that this programme, funded by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology’s Engineering Biology Sandbox Fund, will “ensure cell-cultivated products (CCPs) are safe for consumers prior to market release, while simultaneously fostering innovation in the sector.”
Currently, lab-grown meat derived from animal cells using a growth medium has only received approval for sale in Singapore, the US, and Israel. However, it is noteworthy that dog food formulated with lab-grown meat has recently become available in the UK.
The FSA indicated that a dedicated team of scientists and regulatory experts will commence work on this programme, collaborating closely with academic institutions, the CCP industry, and relevant trade organizations.
The goal is straightforward: to collect robust scientific evidence regarding CCPs and their production methods, thereby informing how the FSA and Foods Standards Scotland (FSS) regulate these products.
Participating CCP businesses include notable companies such as Hoxton Farms (UK), BlueNalu (US), Mosa Meat (The Netherlands), Gourmey (France), Roslin Technologies (UK), Uncommon Bio (UK), Vital Meat (France), and Vow (Australia).
The FSA asserted that the gathered evidence will enable more efficient assessments of CCP applications, ensuring safety prior to consumer availability.
Moreover, the agency has committed to completing the full safety assessment of two CCPs within the next two years.
Professor Robin May, chief scientific advisor at the FSA, stated, “By supporting the safe development of cell-cultivated products, we’re giving businesses the confidence to innovate and accelerating the UK’s position as a global leader in sustainable food production.”
He further elaborated, “This work will not only help bring new products to market faster but will also strengthen consumer trust, supporting our Plan for Change and creating new economic opportunities nationwide.”
Science minister Lord Vallance commented that the eight CCP companies selected for participation were “chosen through a rigorous selection process to represent the diverse, international range of technologies, processes, and ingredients used in CCP production.”
In addition, the FSA aims to collaborate closely with academic partners such as the Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing Hub (CARMA) at the University of Bath, the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC), and the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein. Trade bodies representing the broader industry include The Good Food Institute Europe (GFI) and the Alternative Proteins Association (APA).
Despite facing criticism regarding its involvement, the FSA remains committed to regulatory transparency. Pat Thomas, director of the campaign group Beyond GM, voiced concerns on social media, stating, “A regulator’s job is to regulate, not to aid marketing campaigns or be the paid mouthpiece of industry.”
In response to the criticisms, Lord Vallance explained to the BBC, “It is not deregulation; it is pro-innovation regulation.” He stressed this important distinction, emphasizing the need to align regulation with innovation requirements while minimizing bureaucracy and duplication.
In 2020, Singapore became the first country to authorize the sale of cell-cultivated meat for human consumption, followed by the US three years later and Israel last year.
However, recent actions have seen Italy and several US states enact bans on such products.
Even in regions where cell-based meat is approved, consumer access remains limited. This situation primarily stems from the high cost of growth medium necessary for cell development, which has hindered companies in scaling up production effectively.
