Italy’s government has approved a draft law that would ban the production and sale of food and meat grown in laboratories.
The ban would also apply to lab-produced fish and synthetic milk, noted BBC. Violating the rules would attract fines of up to 60,000 euros ($65,022).
Lab-grown or ‘cultured meat’ is produced by obtaining stem cells from an animal through biopsy. The process does not involve the animal being killed.
The first lab-grown burger that was eaten at a press conference in London in 2013 cost $375,000.
Currently, Singapore is the only country that allows the sale of cultivated chicken. Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the sale of cultivated chicken for human consumption.
The United Kingdom, European countries such as the Netherlands and Spain have announced plans to invest in the research and development of cell-based foods.
Italy’s right-wing government has backed the ban, saying it aims to “safeguard our nation’s heritage”.
The Italian government led by Giorgia Meloni had pledged to “protect” Italian food from technological innovations when it took over power in October.
Welcoming the move against “synthetic food”, Coldiretti, Italy’s biggest farmers’ association said the ban will safeguard home production “from the attacks of multinational companies.”
Supporters say cell-based food steers clear of animal killing and is also more environmentally friendly. As the meat is produced in a sterile environment, there is less risk of contamination and diseases.
It also remains debated if lab-produced food is better for the environment as an Oxford University 2019 study warned the energy required to produce cultivated meat could emit more greenhouse gases than traditional farming.
Even though cultivated meat does not involve animal suffering, some vegans have refused to support the idea.
Opposition as well as experts have condemned the Italy government’s decision. Riccardo Magi, the president of the leftwing party Più Europa, said the Meloni government had “created a new crime”.
Some animal welfare groups argue cultured meat can help in protecting the environment from carbon emissions, noted BBC.
As per BBC, Italy would have to approve the sale of cultured meat produced within the European Union if the bloc approves the proposal due to the free movement of goods and services.