This guidance is the first coming from the Cell-Cultivated Products (CCP) Sandbox Programme, launched in March 2025 to inform how cultivated meat products are regulated. The two-year programme brings together scientists, regulatory experts, academic institutions, industry leaders, and trade bodies to collaborate on the safety of CCP.
Current Sandbox participants include: Hoxton Farms (UK), Blue Nalu (USA), Mosa Meat (The Netherlands), Gourmey (France), Roslin Technologies (UK), Vital Meat (France) and Vow (Australia).
The first piece of safety guidance confirms that cell-cultivated products produced using animal cells, sometimes called ‘lab-grown meat’, are defined as products of animal origin. This means that businesses must apply existing food safety regulations during the production process.
The second provides guidance on allergenicity assessments and how nutritional quality will be assessed as part of the approval process for all cell-cultivated products.
Dr Thomas Vincent, Deputy Director of Innovation, FSA, said: “Our new guidance provides clarity for businesses, helping them to understand and correctly demonstrate to UK food regulators how their products are safe. Specifically, this guidance ensures that companies have assessed potential allergenic risks and that they are nutritionally appropriate before they can be authorised for sale.
He added: “Consumers can be reassured that these innovative new foods will meet the same rigorous safety standards as conventional foods. The Sandbox programme is allowing us to fast-track our regulatory knowledge to reduce barriers for emerging food technologies without compromising on safety standards.”
The programme is funded by the Department of Science and Technology through the Engineering Biology Sandbox Fund.
There are currently no cell-cultivated food products authorised for sale in the UK.
More information and guidance for businesses on cell-cultivated products can be found at the Innovative Food Guidance Hub.