Sandbox programme to ensure cell-cultivated products safe for consumers
A team of scientists and regulatory experts have started work on a two-year programmes to gather scientific evidence about cell-cultivated products and how they are made, to inform how the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Foods Standards Scotland (FSS) how to regulate these products.
The evidence will enable the FSA to assess cell-cultivated product (CCP) applications more efficiently and make sure they are safe before they can be sold to consumers. The FSA will provide clearer guidance to businesses, and address questions that must be answered before any CCPs can enter the market. Through the programme, the FSA is committed to completing the full safety assessment of two CCPs within the next two years.
Safe innovation is at the heart of this programme, stated Professor Robin May, chief scientific advisor at the FSA, who said that by prioritising consumer safety and making sure new foods, like CCPs are safe, the FSA can support growth in innovative sectors.
“Our aim is to ultimately provide consumers with a wider choice of new food, while maintaining the highest safety standards,” May added. “By supporting the safe development of cell-cultivated products, we’re giving businesses the confidence to innovate and accelerating the UK’s position as a global leader in sustainable food production. This work will not only help bring new products to market faster, but strengthen consumer trust, supporting our Plan for Change and creating new economic opportunities across the country.”
Science Minister, Lord Vallance said that eight CCP companies have been selected to participate in the programme. The participants were chosen through a rigorous selection process to represent the diverse, international range of technologies, processes, and ingredients used in CCP production.
CCP businesses participating in the programme are Hoxton Farms (UK), BlueNalu (USA), Mosa Meat (The Netherlands), Gourmey (France), Roslin Technologies (UK), Uncommon Bio (UK), Vital Meat (France) and Vow (Australia).
As well as also working with the wider international CCP industry, we will be working closely with academic partners including the Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing Hub (CARMA) led by the University of Bath, National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC), and the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein. The trade body who will represent the broader industry is the Alternative Proteins Association (APA), alongside non-governmental organisation (NGO) The Good Food Institute Europe (GFI).
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