The USDA and FDA will both oversee the production of cell-cultured food products derived from livestock and poultry, FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Friday, ending a dispute about the future oversight of the nascent industry.
The new bell-based meat technology has been viewed as a competitor to traditional meat, since everything from burgers to chicken can be developed from cells that originate in livestock. The decision follows an industry-wide meeting on the industry convened by the agencies in October.
“Drawing on the expertise of both USDA and FDA, the Agencies are today announcing agreement on a joint regulatory framework wherein FDA oversees cell collection, cell banks, and cell growth and differentiation,” the statement said. “A transition from FDA to USDA oversight will occur during the cell harvest stage. USDA will then oversee the production and labeling of food products derived from the cells of livestock and poultry.”
“This regulatory framework will leverage both the FDA’s experience regulating cell-culture technology and living biosystems and the USDA’s expertise in regulating livestock and poultry products for human consumption,” the statement said. “USDA and FDA are confident that this regulatory framework can be successfully implemented and assure the safety of these products.”
They didn’t believe that new legislation would be needed, because “our agencies have the statutory authority necessary to appropriately regulate cell-cultured food products derived from livestock and poultry.”
Memphis Meats — a major player in the young industry — had previously recommended the two-stage joint regulatory approach by the FDA and USDA, while the North American Meat Institute, the main meat industry lobbying group, had pushed for primary oversight by the USDA.
“This announcement is an exciting indication that FDA and USDA are clearing the way for a transparent and predictable regulatory path forward,” said Jessica Almy, Director of Policy at the the Good Food Institute, which works with cell-based meat companies. She pointed out governments of “Israel, Japan, and Singapore have already signaled significant interest in this important food technology, and so we share FDA’s and USDA’s commitment to ensuring a clear regulatory path forward for cell-based meat as quickly as possible.”
The public comment on the regulatory approach will be extended and will remain open through Dec. 26, 2018, the joint statement said.