Lab-grown meat, dairy, and sugar could be approved for sale in the UK within two years, as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) seeks to speed up the regulatory process, BBC reported.
The move comes in response to concerns that British companies are losing ground to international competitors in the emerging sector.
Currently, lab-grown food—produced from animal or plant cells in controlled environments—has been approved for human consumption in Singapore, the United States, and Israel.
However, countries such as Italy and US states like Alabama and Florida have implemented bans.
The FSA aims to develop a new regulatory framework in collaboration with scientists and food-tech firms, ensuring safety while reducing bureaucratic delays. Chief scientist Prof Robin May assured the public that consumer safety would remain a priority.
“We are working closely with companies and academic groups to design a regulatory structure that is good for them, but at all costs ensures the safety of these products remains as high as it possibly can,” he said.
However, critics such as Pat Thomas of Beyond GM argue that involving private firms in shaping regulations presents a conflict of interest. “If this were any other type of food product, we would be outraged by it,” she said.
The government views lab-grown food as a potential driver of economic growth, supporting innovative start-ups like Ivy Farm Technologies, which has developed cultivated Wagyu and Aberdeen Angus steaks.
CEO Dr Harsh Amin stressed the need for a faster approval process, stating, “Two years is a long time to wait. If we can shorten that while maintaining Britain’s high food safety standards, it would help start-ups like ours to thrive.”
Similarly, Dr Alicia Graham of MadeSweetly has developed a sugar alternative using gene-editing techniques but is unable to market it without regulatory approval.
She emphasised the need for clearer pathways for new food technologies, stating, “We don’t have one specific route to product approval, and that is what we would like.”
Despite the optimism, critics warn of potential drawbacks, such as the environmental impact of lab-grown food production and concerns over ultra-processed foods entering the market. The debate over the future of food regulation in the UK is set to continue.