Lab-grown food products, including meat, dairy, and sugar, could be available for human consumption in the United Kingdom within the next two years as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) accelerates its approval process. This development is significant for UK-based firms that have pioneered advances in this area but have encountered regulatory delays that have inhibited their market entry compared to international competitors.
The FSA is currently exploring ways to streamline its procedures governing lab-grown food and is collaborating with high-tech food companies and academic researchers to establish new regulatory frameworks. The agency aims to undertake a full safety assessment of two lab-grown food items within this two-year timeframe. While progress is being made, there is contention regarding potential conflicts of interest given that the companies involved in the burgeoning sector are assisting in shaping the new regulations.
Speaking to BBC News, Prof Robin May, the FSA’s chief scientist, assured that consumer safety would remain paramount. “We are working very closely with the companies involved and academic groups to work together to design a regulatory structure that is good for them, but at all costs ensures the safety of these products remains as high as it possibly can,” he stated.
The urgency of expedited regulations is highlighted by the international context. Singapore became the first nation to approve cell-cultivated meat for human consumption in 2020, a process that has since been adopted by the United States and Israel. Conversely, regions such as Italy and some states in the US, including Alabama and Florida, have enforced bans on the sale of lab-grown meat, demonstrating a varied global stance on this innovation.
Critics of the FSA’s strategy, including Pat Thomas, director of the campaign group Beyond GM, express apprehension over the agencies’ collaboration with private firms. Thomas remarked, “The companies involved in helping the FSA to draw up these regulations are the ones most likely to benefit from deregulation and if this were any other type of food product, we would be outraged by it.”
In response to concerns regarding perceived deregulation, Lord Vallance, the science minister, clarified the government’s intentions by describing the approach as “pro-innovation regulation.” He emphasised the need for regulatory alignment with innovative practices while aiming to reduce bureaucracy.
Lab-grown foods are produced from cellular material cultivated in fermentation tanks, creating alternatives that can contribute to environmental sustainability and potentially healthier food options. The UK government is particularly invested in the success of this sector, recognising its capacity for job creation and economic growth. Companies like Ivy Farm Technologies, located in Oxford, are positioned to lead the market with lab-grown steaks derived from Wagyu and Aberdeen Angus cattle.
Dr Harsh Amin, CEO of Ivy Farm Technologies, noted the long wait for approval, stating, “If we can shorten that to less than a year, while maintaining the very highest of Britain’s food safety standards, that would help start-up companies like ours to thrive.”
As the FSA moves forward, the development of lab-grown food in the UK represents both a potential shift in the food landscape and a test of regulatory efforts in a rapidly evolving sector.
