Our readers will recall a 2019 agreement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on joint oversight of the production of cell-cultured products from animals traditionally under FSIS jurisdiction (livestock, poultry, and catfish).  Under the agreement FDA will oversee cell collection, growth and differentiation and FSIS will oversee cell harvesting, processing, packaging, and labeling.  As discussed in detail here, on September 3, 2021, FSIS published an advanced notice of public rulemaking (ANPR) seeking comment on the labeling of cell-cultured meat and poultry products.

FSIS announced on November 12, 2021 that in response to several stakeholder requests, the comment period for submitting information solicited in the ANPR on the labeling of cell-cultured meat and poultry products, which was initially set to close on November 2, 2021, will be extended by an additional 30 days.  Among the broad range of questions for comment, the main issue is whether labeling should differentiate cell-cultured products from traditionally slaughtered products, and if so, what terms should be used.  The labels of any cell-cultured meat or poultry products marketed before rulemaking is completed must clearly differentiate the products from slaughtered meat and poultry products, and such labels may need to be changed once final regulations are implemented.

The comment period on labeling of cell-cultured meat and poultry products will now end on December 2, 2021.