Legislation under consideration by the Italian government would prohibit the production, export or import of synthetic ‘meat’ grown from animal cells. If approved, the bill would introduce a fine of €10,000–€60,000 (£8800–£53,000) for any violation of the proposed ban, which would reportedly include other food and drink products similarly derived from cells in a laboratory, several media outlets including Reuters reported.
‘The passing of such a law would shut down the economic potential of this nascent field in Italy, holding back scientific progress and climate mitigation efforts, and limiting consumer choice,’ warned Alice Ravenscroft, head of policy at the Good Food Institute Europe. It could prevent Italian scientists from pursing this field and put an end to cultivated meat startups in the country, she added.
** Click here to read the full-text **
