Existing regulatory frameworks provide a clear process for assessing the safety and market entry of cultivated meat in the EU

A recently published paper by Alessandro Monaco in npj Science of Food (volume 9, Article 21, 2025) has examined the adequacy of the European Union’s novel food framework in regulating cultivated meat. The study addresses concerns raised by political initiatives at both the member state and Union levels, arguing that the framework is well-equipped to assess the safety of cultivated meat and that additional legislative restrictions may be unjustified.

Cultivated meat, produced by growing animal cells in controlled conditions, is classified as a novel food under EU law. Foods that were not widely consumed in the EU before 15 May 1997, must undergo a pre-market approval process before being sold. Once authorized and included in the Union List of Novel Foods, these products are considered as safe as conventional foods.

Despite concerns that the novel food framework may not fully address the disruptive nature of cultivated meat, the existing process includes several safeguards. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conducts a scientific risk assessment of each application, ensuring that any authorized novel food does not pose a risk to public health. This process evaluates nutritional composition, potential allergens, and consumption patterns. The assessment results in a Scientific Opinion, which is then used by the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF) to vote on market authorization.

While the approval process is designed to take 18 months, it can extend to three years if additional information is required. Transparency is maintained throughout, with EFSA publishing its findings and the final approval conditions. The first EU application for cultivated meat was submitted in 2024 by Gourmey and is currently under review.

Several EU member states, including Italy, Austria, and France, have expressed concerns over cultivated meat and have sought additional regulatory scrutiny. Italy, in particular, enacted a ban on its production and commercialization in 2023, citing the precautionary principle as a justification. The precautionary principle in EU food law allows for temporary risk management measures when scientific uncertainty exists regarding potential harm to human health.

However, invoking this principle to justify a complete ban on cultivated meat is questionable. The precautionary principle applies when scientific assessments highlight risks, yet no cultivated meat product has been fully evaluated under the EU’s novel food framework. The authorization process itself is designed to identify and mitigate any safety concerns before a product reaches the market. If a specific cultivated meat product fails to meet safety requirements, it would not be approved. Conversely, if it meets regulatory standards, it should be treated as any other authorized food.

Opponents of cultivated meat argue that it threatens Europe’s gastronomic heritage, particularly high-quality, regionally protected foods. This concern has been cited in political discussions advocating for restrictive measures. However, existing regulatory mechanisms already provide strong protections for traditional foods.

The Geographical Indications (GIs) framework safeguards products such as Prosciutto di Parma and Jambon de Bayonne by ensuring that only goods produced in specific regions with established methods can use these designations. It is unlikely that cultivated meat would be permitted under these protected labels. Similarly, cultivated meat is unlikely to be considered eligible for organic certification, as EU organic regulations require livestock to be raised through natural reproduction methods.

Rather than posing a direct threat to traditional food production, cultivated meat may occupy a distinct market segment. Depending on consumer acceptance, it could compete with conventionally produced, lower-priced meats or remain a niche product, such as cultivated quail meat, currently under review in Australia.

The novel food framework provides a structured and scientifically rigorous pathway for assessing cultivated meat’s safety. The European Commission and EFSA maintain that it is well-suited for evaluating such products. As dedicated guidelines for cellular agriculture products were published in 2024 following extensive stakeholder consultations, confidence in the existing system has been reinforced.

Concerns over cultivated meat’s compatibility with traditional food cultures appear overstated, as robust protections for regional products and organic foods remain in place. Pre-emptive bans, such as those introduced in Italy and under consideration in other member states, may conflict with EU internal market rules. Given that no cultivated meat product has yet been fully assessed under EU law, efforts to restrict its market entry based on speculative risks or socio-economic concerns lack a strong regulatory foundation.