Tejal Somvanshi
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a new regulatory sandbox program to speed up the approval process for cell-cultivated products (CCPs), with a goal of completing safety assessments for two products within the next two years.
This initiative, funded by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology’s Engineering Biology Sandbox Fund, aims to cut through red tape while maintaining safety standards. Currently, regulatory filings for novel foods cost between £350,000-£500,000 per product and can take over 2.5 years for approval.
“Safe innovation is at the heart of this program. By prioritizing consumer safety and making sure new foods like CCPs are safe, we can support growth in innovative sectors,” said Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Advisor at the FSA.
Eight companies have been selected to participate in the two-year program: UK’s Hoxton Farms, Roslin Technologies, and Uncommon Bio; USA’s BlueNalu; Netherlands’ Mosa Meat; France’s Gourmey and Vital Meat; and Australia’s Vow.
The FSA will work with academic partners including the Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing Hub (CARMA), National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC), and the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein. Trade body Alternative Proteins Association and NGO Good Food Institute Europe will also collaborate.
UK Playing Catch-Up in Global Race
The UK is trying to gain ground in a field where other countries have already made headway. Singapore was the first nation to approve cultivated chicken, while the US and Israel have since approved certain cultivated meat products for human consumption.
Science Minister Lord Vallance noted, “By supporting the safe development of cell-cultivated products, we’re giving businesses the confidence to innovate and accelerating the UK’s position as a global leader in sustainable food production.”
The UK has already seen its first cell-cultivated product hit the market—though not for human consumption. In February, dog treats made from cultivated meat went on sale at Pets at Home, produced by London-based startup Meatly.
Environmental and Economic Stakes
Cell-cultivated meat offers potential environmental benefits. Research suggests it could potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water usage compared to conventional livestock farming, while requiring less land.
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The UK Climate Change Committee has indicated that meeting climate targets would require changes in food consumption patterns. To support sustainable food transition, the government has invested in sustainable protein development.
Four major research centers have been established since 2023: CARMA, NAPIC (backed by a £15 million government investment), the Microbial Food Hub, and the Bezos Earth Fund’s Centre for Sustainable Protein.
Challenges Ahead
Despite these steps forward, obstacles remain. The FSA has been under-resourced for years, resulting in approval delays. Detailed guidelines for alternative protein startups proposed in 2022 have yet to be published, leaving companies without clear direction when preparing applications.
Jim Mellon, executive chairman of cellular agriculture investor Agronomics, stated: “The sandbox will only be considered a success if the FSA also receives the support and funding to complete its assessments within faster timelines. Without this speed, it risks losing out on creating a competitive homegrown industry.”
Consumer acceptance presents another hurdle. Some UK citizens have expressed unease about lab-grown meat, though they acknowledged the government could support these products to ensure a wider range of options.
As Mark Post, founder and CSO of Mosa Meat, noted: “These are exactly the kind of public-private partnerships we envisioned when we debuted the world’s first cultivated burger right here in London in 2013.”
