Although some consider the Netherlands to be the birthplace of cultivated meat, cultivated meat has not yet received pre-market approval in the European Union (EU).  Nevertheless, the Netherlands has forged ahead and announced that cultivated meat and seafood can be taste tested subject to the conditions set forth in the Code of Practice for Safely Conducting Tastings of Cultivated Foods Prior to EU Approval (Code of Practice). The Code of Practice is modeled after the principles used by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), although the review process is less extensive.  The proposed tastings will be evaluated by a panel of four experts who will conclude the tasting is either is “safe under the proposed conditions of tasting” and can proceed or “not safe under the proposed conditions of tasting” and cannot proceed. Information that must be submitted includes a description of the cultured cells, a description of the production process including all constituents of the growth media, safety information for all constituents, and an exposure assessment for all constituents. 

The Code of Practice also includes requirements regarding participants, procedures for the tasting, and limits testing to those conducting business in the Netherlands.

The United States and Singapore are currently the only countries where cell-cultivated meat products have received clearance for marketing.  For recent developments in the United States, see our previous articles on GOOD Meat’s label approval and USDA’s Directive to Inspection Program Personnel as Cell-Cultured Meats Begin to Enter the U.S. Market.