The APAC Regulatory Coordination Forum has released two white papers addressing essential safety and regulatory concerns for cultivated meat.

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Cultivated Meat

APAC Regulatory Coordination Forum Releases White Papers to Harmonize Cultivated Meat Standards

The APAC Regulatory Coordination Forum has released two white papers that address essential safety and regulatory concerns for cultivated meat to support their commercialization while promoting safe innovations in the Asia-Pacific market. The new resources examine current gaps in cell line developments and cell culture media components — the building blocks of cultivated meat production — identified as the two regulatory topics of highest interest in 2024. The cell line development paper focuses on issues related to cell line documentation, stability, genetic modification, and trade requirements for cultivated food production. Meanwhile, the cell culture media paper addresses safety assessment protocols, evaluation of expression systems for media substances, categorization of media components, quality standards, genetic engineering standards, and conformity assessment procedures. The papers were developed with …

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Europa-Flagge im Wind

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Politics & Law

EU Commission Deems Hungary’s Proposed Cultivated Meat Ban ‘Unjustified'”

Following the TRIS assessment, the European Commission has deemed the Hungarian ban on cultured meat “unjustified” and potentially harmful to the European single market, reports the Good Food Institute. According to the Commission, the ban could disrupt the harmonized authorization procedure for novel foods at the EU level, which involves scientific evaluation by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The Commission and some Member States also highlighted that Hungary had not provided evidence against cultivated meat to support the ban. Hungary proposed a ban on cultivated meat this July; the TRIS procedure prevents national parliaments from passing bills that could affect the European Single Market without consulting other member states and the Commission. The assesment of Hungary’s proposed ban underscores the importance of European review in …

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Mycoprotein meatballs

Image courtesy of The Better Meat Co.

Company News

The Better Meat Co. Expands to Asia with Singapore Approval for Rhiza Mycoprotein

California’s The Better Meat Co. (BMC) announces it has received approval from the Singapore Food Authority to sell its flagship, single-ingredient Rhiza mycoprotein in the country. The approval confirms that Neurospora crassa, the fungi genus that BMC uses in its biomass fermentation process to make the mycoprotein, is safe for human consumption. Neurospora crassa has been traditionally used in Asian foods such as tempeh and oncom, but it has never been used as an ingredient itself. Most of the mycoproteins available are derived from the roots of Fusarium venenatum, the fungus strain used by Quorn for decades. This approval marks a significant milestone for the company’s overseas expansion. CEO Paul Shapiro will keynote the 3rd Annual Meat Evolution Leaders Summit in Singapore, featuring dishes made from Rhiza …

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Vegan cheese made with animal-free caseins

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Company News

Fermify Secures US GRAS Status for Fermented Casein, Animal-Free Dairy Tastings on Horizon

Fermify, an Austrian precision fermentation company developing milk proteins, announces it has obtained self-affirmed Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status for its precision-fermented casein after conducting a comprehensive safety study, as per FDA requirements. The GRAS milestone validates the quality and safety of Fermify’s casein and is crucial for introducing animal-free cheese and dairy products to the US market. It also positions Fermify as one of the few suppliers of fermented casein in the country. The company says it has also voluntarily notified the FDA of its GRAS conclusion and is now pending a “no questions” letter confirming the status. “This is a key development for Fermify and the entire precision fermentation sector. We are one of the first companies to sell their casein proteins …

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Cultivated bacon on top of a burger

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Politics & Law

UK Invests £1.6 Million in Europe’s First Regulatory Sandbox to Fast-Track Cultivated Meat Approvals

The UK government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has announced £1.6 million in funding for a regulatory “sandbox” within the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS), specifically for cultivated meat and seafood. Claimed as Europe’s first, the sandbox aims to accelerate the authorization process for these novel proteins. Cultivated meat must undergo a comprehensive food safety assessment in alignment with the UK’s existing regulatory framework for novel foods and must be authorized by ministers before becoming publicly available. The sandbox aims to boost regulators’ scientific knowledge of cultivated meat, develop detailed guidance, and provide pre-submission consultations to companies to streamline approval timelines while maintaining safety standards. It will also review hygiene in production facilities, labeling, and nomenclature. Other initiatives, approvals, …

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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is inviting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working on novel food products to receive advice on the requirements for applications to obtain authorization to market their innovations in the EU market.

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Politics & Law

EFSA’s Call for Pre-Submission Advice for SMEs on Novel Food Applications Ends Soon

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is inviting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working on novel food products to receive advice on the requirements for applications to obtain authorization to market their innovations in the EU market. As stated by EFSA, the initiative aims to support SMEs with no or limited experience by providing general pre-submission advice (GPSA) at two stages of their novel food development and application process: At the very early stage of developing the novel food, even before starting the studies that will be included in the application. At the latest stages of the application’s preparation, when most of the information that will be included in the application is already available to the SME. Selected SMEs will receive valuable advice from EFSA, from …

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Cultivated chicken on a small grill. Japan's government is making changes and transferring powers to different organizations to shift toward a more flexible approach to the novel food sector-

Cultivated chicken © Diverse Farm

Company News

JACA Unveils Blueprint for Cultivated Meat Safety & Regulation in Japan, Calls for Expert Feedback

The Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture (JACA) has released an extensive report, in English, analyzing international trends in the safety and regulatory assessment of cultivated meat. JACA, which works on policy-making to bring cell-based foods to the Japanese market, has plans to propose safety assessment criteria for Japanese regulatory authorities to continue building the country’s Novel Foods framework. With this report, the group is taking proactive steps to align Japan’s safety assessment criteria for cultivated foods with international standards, involve global experts in refining these criteria, and address the domestic shortage of knowledgeable food safety professionals. According to Megumi Avigail Yoshitomi, JACA’s Representative Director, the goal is to create a robust and harmonized regulatory framework that serves as a model for Japan and the global …

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The SFA recently issued a new draft, the Food Safety and Security Bill (FSSB) on novel food and pre-market approval.

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Politics & Law

Singapore Proposes Revision of Novel Food Approvals with New “Defined Food” Category

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) recently issued a new draft, the Food Safety and Security Bill (FSSB), proposing a new category, “Defined Food,” and new requirements for pre-market approval of these foods or ingredients. Under the FSSB, novel foods would be considered a sub-category of “Defined Food,” along with genetically modified (GM) foods, and insect-like species, all subject already to pre-market approval but will need to meet additional regulatory requirements before being imported or sold in the country. According to the document, “Defined Food” includes food that consists of or contains novel or genetically modified ingredients that have not received pre-market approval, as well as any insect-like species that are not cataloged as such. The bill, open for public comments until next …

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Cultivated Meat

South Korea Designates Regulation-Free Zone for Cultivated Meat to Boost Production & Safety

The South Korean government has announced the designation of a special regulatory-free zone in Gyeongsangbuk-do province to accelerate the production and commercialization of cultivated meat in the country. The zone, officially named the Gyeongbuk Cell-Cultivated Foods Regulatory-Free Special Zone (RFSZ), aims to address the legal obstacles facing the development of cell culture food products, establish global standards for these novel foods, and develop a skilled workforce for the cultivated meat industry. The cultivated meat RSFZ will be operational for the next five years (until December 2028) with a budget of ₩19.9 billion ($14.4 million) as reported by local media. Demonstrating safety Ten companies, including SeaWith, TissenBioFarm, and DaNAgreen, will demonstrate the commercialization of cultivated meat, backed by R&D funding and tax breaks. Their goal will be to use cells from livestock …

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Bene Meat Technologies signed open letter urging the EU to evaluate the safety of cultivated meat

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Cultivated Meat

Bene Meat Technologies Signs Open Letter Urging the EU to Review Italy’s Cultivated Meat Safety Concerns

Czech cultivated meat company Bene Meat Technologies has sent an open letter to the European Commission asking it to review Italy’s ban on cultivated meat due to safety concerns and its compliance with EU law.  The letter states that Italy’s ban on the technology was based on unfounded scientific claims about its safety, disregarding the EU’s standard food safety assessment mechanisms while violating the common market principle, posing a threat to EU interests. “The EU has a range of legislative instruments to ensure food safety, often directly applicable, and not requiring the adoption of standards at a national level,” argues Bene Meat Technologies. Factual scientific information The letter, signed on behalf the company’s team by CEO Roman Kříž, also notes that as an experienced company in cellular agriculture, …

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New report shows 42% of Japanese consumers would try cultivated meat,

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Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

New Report Finds 42% of Japanese Consumers Would Try Cultivated Meat, While 58% Are Not Familiar with Cell-Based Foods

APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture (APAC-SCA) has released a new report revealing that 42% of Japanese consumers are open to trying cultivated meat or seafood products, “as long as they have been proven safe.”  The report Prospect of Cultivated Meat & Seafood in Japan was commissioned by APAC-SCA and analyzed by Akira Igata, Project Lecturer at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo and Director of the Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture (JACA). The researchers surveyed 1,000 Japanese consumers in May 2023, aiming to gain insights into their perceptions and behavioral trends related to cultivated meat and seafood.  A strong emphasis on safety The findings show that 44% of respondents considered the presence of Japanese government regulations as the most important factor …

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FAO conducted a foresight exercise to explore and evaluate future safety issues of plant-based food products, precision fermentation, and 3D food printing.

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Health

Are Plant-Based, Precision Fermentation, and 3D Printed Products Less Safe to Eat than Conventional Foods?

A recent meeting for food safety assessment on New Food Sources and Production Systems (NFPS) organized by The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) conducted a foresight exercise to explore and evaluate future safety issues of plant-based, precision fermentation, and 3D printed food products. After the exercise and the evaluation of the current food safety standards, the meeting concluded that, in general, the food safety hazards of these NFPS are similar to those of conventional foods. However, they emphasize that new production and processing technologies can introduce unique conditions within a specific NFPS, requiring careful monitoring and consideration from a food safety standpoint. They also added that it was important always to consider the intended uses of final products when conducting safety assessments on …

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Dr. Mark Post is an expert consultant for FAO's report on food safety

Dr. Mark Post © Mosa Meat

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Food Safety Risks in Cultivated Meat Are Similar to Those of Conventional Meat, Concludes Mark Post For FAO Report

The FAO/WHO Scientific Advice Programme has officially launched a new publication entitled Food Safety Aspects of Cell-Based food. The report offers accurate information and scientific knowledge on cell-based food production to authorities in low- and middle-income countries, to enable them to take any necessary regulatory actions. Furthermore, they can benefit from the experiences of more developed countries by learning from their good practices in this field, explains FAO. Dr. Mark Post, CSO and co-founder of the Dutch company Mosa Meat, who in 2013, revealed the world’s first cultivated burger in London, served on FAO’s technical panel as a consultant expert for the report.  Since more than 100 companies, including Mosa Meat, are already developing cell-based food products ready for commercialization and will be awaiting approval soon, …

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a graphic of a burger with the word plant based between the bread buns

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Ingredients

Project Investigates Microbial Contaminants in 80+ Plant-Based Ingredients

A public-private consortium is studying the prevalence of microbial contaminants in a range of plant-based foods. Animal-free foods are now more widely consumed than ever, but there is a lack of research into relevant food safety issues. The consortium aims to address this by studying the types of contaminants in over 80 different plant-based ingredients. More specifically, the project will investigate which pathogens are found in plant-based foods, whether they can survive processing, and how much of a risk they pose. It is hoped that this will improve food safety and reduce waste. The consortium consists of NIZO Food Research, Wageningen University & Research, and HAS Green Academy, along with numerous companies including Ripple Foods, Coca-Cola, and Tetra Pak. Funding has been contributed by Topsector …

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cultured-meat-policies

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Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization Assesses Safety and Regulations of Cultivated Meat

The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is now assessing important food safety and regulatory concerns regarding cultivated meat. The organization released several documents discussing food safety aspects of cultivated meat products, including language and terminologies, common production processes, and regulatory frameworks. Labeling and terminology The FAO points out that since cultivated meats represent an emerging commodity, the terminology used to describe its processes and products remain inconsistent. A literature review found the most common terms used by consumers and the industry are  “cell-based,” “cultivated,” and “cultured,” with some studies suggesting “cultivated” as the most appealing term.  Through its report, FAO aims to provide a basis for global policymakers to select consistent language for legislation and communication about cultivated meat. The organization also encourages …

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Esco Aster cultivated meat

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Cultivated Meat

Esco Aster Becomes First Cultivated Meat Producer to Gain ISO 22000 Food Safety Cert

Singaporean company Esco Aster has received the stringent ISO 22000 food safety certification for its cultivated meat manufacturing facility. The company states it is the first in the sector to be awarded the certification. In September 2021, the company became the first manufacturing platform to obtain regulatory approval to develop and produce cultivated meat at commercial scale as a contract development and manufacturing organization. Scaling up Esco Aster has developed a platform called CellFarm-to-Table™, which will allow it to produce a variety of cultivated meat products. The company is also scaling up its operations, designing three trains of 6,000L bioreactors to bring its total manufacturing volume to 50,000L. Additionally, Esco Aster is working to lower the cost of cultivated meat production through strategies such as …

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