Cellular Agriculture Policy: Navigating Regulation for Cultivated Meat

Cultivated meat -- grown from animal cells without slaughter -- has received regulatory approval in Singapore and the US but faces complex regulatory hurdles globally. Policy development will determine how quickly it can scale and reduce animal suffering.

Key Facts

Singapore became the first country to approve cultivated chicken for commercial sale in 2020
The US FDA and USDA jointly approved cultivated chicken from UPSIDE Foods and GOOD Meat in 2023
The EU novel food process requires extensive safety data before approval -- the timeline is uncertain
Several US states have enacted or proposed legislation to restrict or ban the sale of cultivated meat
Italy banned the production and sale of cultivated meat in 2023, reflecting cultural and agricultural industry opposition
Cultivated meat production cost has fallen from 00,000 per kg in 2013 to estimates of 0-25 per kg at scale
Industry analysts estimate cultivated meat could capture 1% of the global meat market by 2030 under optimistic scenarios

Welfare Considerations

Cellular agriculture policy will determine how quickly cultivated meat can scale and how much conventional animal agriculture it displaces. Regulatory approval is the critical bottleneck -- once approval is granted in major markets, investment and production capacity can scale rapidly. Opposition from conventional agriculture industry and cultural resistance in some markets represent the primary obstacles. Welfare advocates have a direct stake in cellular agriculture policy because its success or failure determines how many animals are farmed in future decades. Supporting open regulatory environments for cultivated meat is one of the most impactful policy advocacy positions available.

What You Can Do

Support organisations advocating for science-based regulatory frameworks for cultivated meat globally
Oppose legislation that restricts cultivated meat through protectionist rather than safety arguments
Engage with food companies and restaurants about their interest in offering cultivated meat when available
Advocate for government funding for cellular agriculture research that reduces production costs
Share accurate information about cultivated meat safety and environmental benefits to address misconceptions