Italian government wants to ban lab-grown meat | Abroad

If parliament passes the bill, it will be forbidden in Italy to make food or animal feed “with cell cultures or tissues derived from vertebrate animals”. Violations threaten fines of up to 60,000 euros. This is stated in the proposal that has been viewed by the Reuters news agency.

Companies in the Netherlands, among others, are experimenting with growing meat in the laboratory, such as Mosa Meat from Maastricht and Meatable from Delft. In doing so, they feed a few animal cells in the lab, producing meat without slaughter. But the Italian government fears competition for the country’s extensive agricultural sector and food industry, known for high-quality hams and cheeses, among other things.

The Italian agricultural lobby club Coldiretti welcomed the possible ban, which would be necessary to protect its own farmers and food manufacturers “against attacks by multinationals”. Organizations that are in favor of cell culture-based foods are reacting critically. Umbrella organizations Cellular Agriculture Europe says the Italian government is limiting the options of consumers concerned about animal welfare.

Alice Ravenscroft, head of policy at the Good Food Institute Europe, fears that the law against cultured meat “limits the economic opportunities of this emerging discipline in Italy”. It would also hinder progress in science and the fight against climate change.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, like Lollobrigida a member of the far-right party Fratelli d’Italia, previously announced measures against unconventional foods. She wants to quickly introduce mandatory labels for products containing insects, after the outcry on social media about the use of cricket meal in food.