In a landmark decision, the Italian Parliament has issued a final ruling banning lab-grown meats. This decision, reported by the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, follows the approval of a law that prohibits the use of food and feed produced in laboratories. The government led by Georgia Meloni promoted this legislation as a measure to safeguard the country’s culinary traditions.
The Italian law bans the production, sale, import, and export of foods and feeds derived from cells or tissue cultures of vertebrate animals. This decision is seen as a response to potential health concerns associated with these products, despite lab-grown meats not yet being approved for sale in the European Union. The law was passed in the Chamber of Deputies and later approved by the Senate with a majority of 159 votes in favor and 53 against.
Violations of this law could result in fines up to 150,000 euros (approximately 162,700 US dollars) and the threat of closure for non-compliant factories. Additionally, owners may lose their right to public funding for up to three years.
With this ruling, Italy becomes the first country in the European Union to ban lab-grown meats, which are produced from cells extracted from animal tissues. The law also prohibits describing plant-based proteins as “meat,” under penalty of high fines.
Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida commented that lab-grown meats “sever the virtuous relationship between the earth, humans, and work that has accompanied us for thousands of years and allowed us to preserve the land.” This statement reflects a broader cultural and historical perspective, emphasizing the importance of traditional food practices and their link to land and identity in Italy.
This legislation marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over food technology and its implications for health, culture, and the environment. It highlights the tension between embracing innovative food technologies and preserving traditional food practices that have been integral to cultural identities for centuries. The decision by Italy to ban lab-grown meats raises important questions about the future of food production and the role of technology in shaping dietary choices and cultural heritage.
