Quotes from Vegconomist, January 15, 2024
Japan’s Food Policy is Undergoing a Transformation to Support Novel Food Technologies, such as Cultivated Meat, says the Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture (JACA).
The JACA reports that the Japanese government is adjusting its food policy to be more adaptable and conducive to the novel food sector, which includes cultivated meat. The government is reassigning roles and duties among different agencies to simplify the food safety process and assessment for cultivated meat. This could create more favorable conditions and opportunities for the emerging technology, which promises to provide a sustainable and clean-energy source of protein.
As explained by the organization, the responsibilities for novel foods are carried by two separate bodies: the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), which focuses on risk management and food hygiene, and the Food Safety Commission (FSC), which handles risk assessment.
Japan does not have any concrete laws to allow or prohibit the sale of cultivated meat, but the MHLW has the power over cultivated meat, giving legal guidance for the sale, production, and import processes. However, the MHLW relies on the research done by the FSC when making public announcements about the safety of cultivated food.
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