Italian lawmakers have approved legislation banning the production, sale, or import of lab-grown meat or animal feed, marking it as a safeguarding measure for Italian tradition, as stated by Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, who hailed Italy as “the world’s first country safe from the social and economic risks of synthetic food.”
The parliamentary vote prompted both support and opposition, culminating in a scuffle between farmers and some MPs.
Coldiretti, a major farmers’ organization, condemned lab-grown meat as “anti-scientific and anti-Italian,” clashing with opposition More Europe party MPs.
This led to heated exchanges, with accusations of being “criminals” and “hooligans.”
Despite the contention, the bill was endorsed by parliament with 159 votes to 53, enforcing fines of up to €60,000 for violations.
However, its impact remains minimal since lab-grown meat has received approval only in Singapore and the US for human consumption, pending authorization in the EU.
While the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa) has not received any proposals for lab-grown meat approval, the EU’s consideration of these products as “novel foods” demands safety assessments and authorization by member states and the European Commission.
The law, celebrated by Italy’s agriculture minister, aims to preserve the traditional food system and protect workers, entrepreneurs, and citizens’ right to quality food.
Yet, it faces criticism from bioscience specialist Prof Elena Cattaneo, condemning the emotive nature of the petition that equated natural food with goodness and lab-grown food with negativity.
This legislation prohibits synthetic foods generated from animal cells without harming the animal and restricts meat-related terms on labels for plant-based protein.
Critics argue that lab-grown meat isn’t synthetic but rather a product cultivated from natural cells without genetic modification.
Additionally, this law contradicts efforts by animal welfare groups advocating lab-made meat as an eco-friendly solution to reduce carbon emissions.
Source-BBC
