EUROPE – Gourmey, a pioneering French cultivated meat company specializing in cultivated foie gras, has become the first to request regulatory approval for selling cultivated meat within the European Union.
In addition to this, Gourmey has also submitted similar applications to authorities in Singapore, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.
Before hitting the market, Gourmey’s cultivated foie gras must secure approval from the European Commission.
This process will be regulated under the EU’s Novel Foods Regulation, renowned as one of the world’s most rigorous food safety frameworks.
The approval process, expected to span at least 18 months, will involve a comprehensive evaluation of the safety and nutritional profile of the cultivated meat.
Beyond food safety, the assessment will also consider the potential social, economic, and environmental implications of the product.
The European Food Safety Authority, along with scientific experts and member states, will provide input during this evaluation.
Should approval be granted, Gourmey’s cultivated foie gras could be marketed across all 27 EU member countries.
The situation in Italy, where cultivated meat is currently banned, remains uncertain.
There are suggestions that the ban might be legally unenforceable due to procedural violations of EU regulations by the Italian government.
Gourmey’s application follows a similar move by Aleph Farms, another cultivated meat company, which sought regulatory approval in Switzerland and the UK last year.
In the UK, cultivated meat has yet to reach the market, though companies are preparing for potential regulatory changes.
A 2022 survey by Statista revealed that nearly 40% of British consumers are open to trying cultivated meat products, with an additional 33% uncertain, making those opposed to cultured meat the minority.
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