Policy & regulation

A range of regulatory settings are emerging across different jurisdictions. A global overview of regulatory settings in countries with existing cellular agriculture infrastructure is presented below, partly based on a summary of novel food regulations prepared by the Good Food Institute India. A comparative analysis of cultivated food regulations across various jurisdictions can be found here.

Overview of international regulations (as of Dec 2025) –
Jurisdiction Regulatory agency Regulatory framework  Retail approval?
Australia – New Zealand Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), within the Ministry for Primary Industries. Cell–cultivated meats are regulated through Standards 1.5.4, 3.4.1, and Schedules 25A and 27 of the Australia-New Zealand Food Standards Code (FSC).

Novel foods in general are governed by Standards 1.1.1 and 1.5.1 of the FSC.

 Yes – Vow Group cultured quail approved in 2025.
Singapore Singapore Food Agency (SFA).

Pet food approvals from Singapore’s Animal & Veterinary Services (AVS).

 Novel Food Regulatory Framework.

Licence to Manufacture and Process Feed for Non-food Producing Animals (pet food).

 Yes – GOOD Meat’s cultivated meat product available since 2024.
Malaysia Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) – Food Safety and Quality Division (BKKM). Malaysia currently regulates new food types produced by ‘modern biotechnology’ under Regulation 3A of the Food Regulations 1985 (“Approval for sale of food obtained through modern biotechnology”).
Thailand National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) oversee safety assessment as designated by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In development – led by BIOTEC.
Japan Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare and Consumer Affairs Agency. Regulatory reform promoted by Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture (JACA).
South Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). New Food Materials – Standards for Recognition of Temporary Standards and Specifications for Food.

South Korea set up a special regulation-free zone for startups in 2024: the Gyeongbuk Cell-Cultivated Foods Regulatory-Free Special Zone (RFSZ).
China National Centre for Food Safety Assessment (CFSA), National Health Commission (NHC). In development – led by CFSA, will be regulated under China’s Food Safety Law. No retail approvals for cultivated meat products.
India Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). In development, will be regulated by the FSSAI through the Approval of Non-Specified Food and Food Ingredients Regulations (NSF Regulations).
Canada Canadian Food and Nutrition Directorate, within Health Canada. Novel food regulations beyond novel food safety assessments.
United States of America (USA) US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety Inspection Service, within the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Formal agreement shared by FDA and USDA, specific to cell-culture technology used in food. Yes – UPSIDE Foods and GOOD Meat since 2023. Mission Barn and Wildtype since 2025. Cultivated meat sales are banned in seven states, including Florida and Texas.
Brazil Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa). Resolution of the Collegiate Board of Directors – RDC 839/2023.
Chile Ministry of Health (Chile). In development – led by the Chile MoH.
European Union (EU) European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for risk assessment and scientific opinion.

European Commission and its Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety for final approval, along with representatives from all EU member states.

 Novel Foods Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2015/2283).

Cell cultured pet food governed under Annex XIII of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011.

 Italy and Hungary have both placed national prohibitions on the retail sale of cultivated meat (in 2023 and 2025, respectively).
Switzerland Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO). Governed by the Federal Act on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles (Regulation 817).

Definition of a novel food does not differ significantly from that set out in Regulation (EU) 2015/2283; harmonised with EU rules.
United Kingdom UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS). The UK continues to follow the EU legislation: Novel Foods Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2015/2283), Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 for pet food.

Since 2025, the UK FSA has also operated a regulatory sandbox for cell-cultivated products.

 Yes – Meatly received approval for cultivated pet food in 2024. Gourmey (Parima) received approval from both FSA and FSS in 2025.
South Africa SA National Department of Health and Department of Agriculture (DALRRD). No specific regulations around cell-cultured meat, generic meat analogue regulations gazetted in 2025.
Israel Israel National Food Service (NFS), within the Ministry of Health. Governed by the Novel Food Directive 2006 (004-08). Yes – Aleph Farm granted approval for the sale of cultivated beef in 2024.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC). In development – led by ADAFSA, QCC and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).