In the US, there are discussions about banning lab-grown meat, but regulatory director Taly Dvorkis from law firm Fieldfisher believes this won’t impact the UK. The UK Government and Food Standards Agency (FSA) have shown strong support for the development of lab-grown meat.
Transitioning from Brexit, the UK Government has prioritized novel food authorization as a key benefit. They aim to work with the FSA to improve the approval process for novel foods, promoting safe innovation in sustainable protein production.
Furthermore, the UK Government has invested over £12 million in sustainable proteins and precision fermentation, fostering R&D in cultivated meat. While this investment attracts companies to the UK, questions remain about the speed of regulatory approvals for novel foods.
The FSA is in the process of streamlining regulatory approval to facilitate quicker market entry for companies. This forward-thinking approach aligns with the FSA’s commitment to safe and sustainable food production without compromising consumer safety.
In contrast, some European countries have been less supportive of cultivated meats. For example, Italy banned lab-grown meat to protect food heritage, while other countries like France and Austria raised concerns at the EU level. On the other hand, the Netherlands has been a leader in cultivated meat production, setting guidelines for product testing in controlled environments.
Companies like Meatable are making strides in cultivated meat production, reducing development time and moving closer to commercialization goals. This progress bodes well for the future of sustainable protein production in the UK and beyond.
