The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week announced a “roadmap” for regulating biotechnology products, including cell-cultured meat and poultry products.
Within the proposal, known as the “Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology,” USDA noted that it intends to clarify and provide guidance on the regulation of cell-cultured products.
Accordingly, USDA transmitted to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), which is a precursor to a “Proposed Rule,” that would establish new requirements for the labeling of such products.
“Many companies, both domestic and foreign, are currently developing cultured products derived from the cells of food animals amenable to [USDA’s regulatory authority],” USDA said in its filing of the NPRM. “Human food products derived from these species fall under FSIS jurisdiction. Based on FSIS’ review of comments on the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the available literature, and the Agency’s ongoing interactions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and industry, FSIS has determined that new regulatory requirements for labeling are necessary to ensure that cell-cultured meat and poultry products are truthfully and accurately labeled.
“Due to the novel method of production utilized to produce these products, the biological, chemical, nutritional, or organoleptic properties of some cell-cultured products may substantively differ from conventionally produced meat and poultry in a manner that is relevant to consumers,” the NPRM’s summary continued. “Moreover, these meat and poultry products, unlike any others on the U.S. market, are not derived from slaughter. It is imperative, therefore, that such products display unique labeling terminology that enables consumers to accurately identify the nature and source of such products.”
