NETHERLANDS – Dutch biotech company, Meatable, has submitted its dossier for the first legally sanctioned cultivated meat tasting in the Netherlands, marking a significant milestone in the regulatory landscape for cultured meat in the country.
The submission follows the launch of an independent Expert Committee, established by the Cellular Agriculture Netherlands Foundation (CANS) on behalf of the Dutch government, to evaluate requests for cultivated meat and seafood tastings.
If granted approval, Meatable assures to conduct a tasting under controlled circumstances, making the Netherlands the first country in the EU to allow pre-approval tastings.
The Committee, comprising a toxicologist, microbiologist, physician, and an ethical expert, will scrutinize company documents, including safety methods, to provide feedback on the tasting proposal.
Tastings are considered a crucial step for consumers to experience the taste and texture of cultivated products, fostering an understanding of their nutritional profiles and sustainability benefits.
Meatable anticipates hosting its first tasting soon, showcasing its commitment to revolutionizing the meat industry.
The Netherlands has been a pioneer in cultivated meat, with various companies contributing to the development of cell-based meat and seafood.
Upstream Foods, specializing in cell-cultured fats for seafood alternatives, welcomes the tasting approval process, seeing it as a pivotal moment for the Dutch cultivated meat and seafood ecosystem.
Mosa Meat, renowned for developing the world’s first cultivated hamburger in 2013, also welcomes regulatory progress.
The company plans to apply soon for legal tastings of its cultivated beef. The Netherlands, known for sustainable food innovation, continues to lead in this space, even as some European countries face challenges and pushbacks against cultivated meat.
Globally, over 150 cultivated meat and seafood companies aim to mitigate the environmental impact of the food industry.
Independent research by CE Delft suggests that cultivated meat could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 92% and land use by 95% within the meat industry.
While some countries, like Italy, have faced regulatory challenges and pushback against cultivated meat, others, including the US, UK, Singapore, and Israel, are making strides in regulating cell-based food products. EU Agriculture Ministers recently discussed the regulation of cultivated meat within the bloc.
The evolving regulatory landscape reflects the global shift towards sustainable and innovative solutions in the food industry, with cultivated meat poised to play a crucial role in addressing environmental concerns and meeting the growing demand for alternative protein sources.
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