There are four new pieces of guidance to help businesses to navigate the regulatory requirements needed to bring safe, products to market.
The four new guides cover: food business hygiene, scientific requirements for evaluating cell-cultivated products, recommendations for applications for market authorisation and guidance on taste trials of novel foods.
The guidance, produced through the Cell-Cultivated Products Sandbox Programme, which was launched in March 2025, is the second batch of publications from the Department of Science and Technology (DSIT)-funded initiative, which runs until February 2027.
The programme compliments the market authorisation process by working with scientists, regulators, academics and industry to develop a shared understanding of how food regulations apply to cell-cultivated products.
Dr Thomas Vincent, Deputy Director of Innovation,FSA, said: “Cell-cultivated products represent a genuinely new frontier for the food industry, and we want businesses to have the clearest possible picture of what is required to bring safe products to market. This guidance reflects the knowledge we have built through engagement with industry and academia through the Sandbox and is designed to make the path to authorisation more transparent and efficient.”
He added: “Consumer safety is non-negotiable, and these documents are ultimately about reducing barriers for emerging food technologies without compromising on safety standards.”
Professor Susan Jebb, FSA Chair, said: “Developments in the innovative food sector can support a healthier and more resilient food system while also contributing to the UK government’s ambitions for a growing, modern economy.”
She added: “But that potential will only be realised if businesses have the regulatory clarity to invest and the confidence to scale-up. This guidance provides practical support that helps innovative companies move forward, backed by a science-led approach that protects public health.”
The Sandbox Programme also offers a Business Support Service, available to companies developing cell-cultivated products until February 2027, providing direct engagement with FSA and FSS regulatory experts.
