Italy bans cultivated meat

Italy has announced a ban on the production, sale and import of cultivated meat, as well as on the use of meat-related terms on labels for plant-based foods — a move that stands in contradiction to the findings that we must reduce industrial farming and shift towards more plant-based diets.

The Italian parliament passed the bill by 159 votes to 53. The legislators who supported the bill claimed that it would help protect national traditions and prevent «synthetic» foods from entering the market.

Although no cultivated meat is currently on the market in the European Union, the ban is intended to prevent the development of novel foods in the country. Violations of the law can be punished with a fine of up to 60’000 €.

As the European Commission continues to review novel foods such as cultivated meat, the ban could later be challenged at EU level.

The bill also prohibits the use of meat-related terms on labels to describe plant-based foods. This will burden manufacturers of plant-based products with costly relabelling and prevent consumers from associating the relevant terminology with plant-based products.

The measure is a deliberate attack on progress and prevents Italy from moving forward, even as a growing number of European and non-European countries are taking a clear step towards a dietary transition.

We are facing the legalization of an anti-scientific stance that enables the animal husbandry lobby to continue exploiting, injuring and killing millions of animals, while also harming the health of all people who resist the transformation in every respect.

Domiziana Illengo, LAV

The adoption of this law is a clear sign of resistance against the urgently needed development towards better food systems for people, animals and the planet.

You can help all animals and our planet with compassion. Choose compassion on your plate and in your glass. Go vegan.