Italy Becomes the First Country to Ban the Production, Sale, and Import of Cultured Meat – a type of meat produced by cultivating animal cells in a laboratory, rather than through the slaughter of animals.
The ban also includes the use of terms referring to traditional meat products, such as “Italian sausage” or “steak”, to market plant-based meat alternatives.
Lab-grown burger – (Photo: David Parry/PA Wire/AP).
The Italian Parliament passed this ban after months of debate. Violators of the ban may face fines of up to 60,000 euros (65,800 USD).
Italian Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida emphasized that the government’s decision aims to protect culinary traditions and job markets in the agricultural sector.
“Italy is the first country in the world to be safeguarded against the economic and social risks of synthetic food,” Lollobrigida asserted.
Earlier this year, Italy “greenlit” the production and sale of insect-based food by establishing guidelines for how these products should be identified in the market. However, it may take several more years for this protein source to become widely accepted in the country.
Germany and Spain Increase Investments in Cultured Meat Italy’s ban comes at a time when many other countries, including Germany and Spain, are ramping up research investments to enhance the production processes of lab-grown meat. Proponents of this viewpoint argue that cultured meat should be produced for its sustainability, as this practice has a lower environmental impact compared to traditional animal-based meat production. Additionally, cultured meat may also be healthier for consumers since it does not require the use of growth hormones and antibiotics, and it could potentially be priced lower than traditionally sourced meat. |
