Italian Members of Parliament have approved a legislation prohibiting the production, sale, or import of cultivated meat, emphasizing the preservation of Italian tradition, according to the right-wing government. The bill received parliamentary support with 159 votes in favour and 53 against, and violations could incur fines of up to €60,000.
Currently, the impact of the law is minimal, as cultivated meat has only been sanctioned for human consumption in Singapore and the US. The EU has not yet approved lab-grown meat, classified as “novel foods.” If the EU authorises it, Italy’s law may face challenges from the EU Commission. This legislative victory aligns with the stance of Italy’s agriculture minister, who vowed a year ago to prevent “synthetic food” from entering Italian dining tables.
The law prohibits synthetic foods derived from animal cells without animal slaughter and restricts producers from using meat-related terms on labels for plant-based proteins. Critics argue that lab-grown meat is not synthetic but involves growing natural cells without genetic modification. Additionally, the law disappoints animal welfare groups, who view lab-made meat as an environmentally friendly solution to reduce carbon emissions.
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