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Regulating cell-based meat

The USDA and FDA will jointly oversee the production of cell-based meat, and a leader with the North American Meat Institute says he thinks that will provide a level playing field for the regulation of the products.

Mark Dopp is the general counsel and senior vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs.

“Level playing fields means one set of rules applies to everybody,” he says.  

He says a big concern has been the labeling of cell-based meat.

“All one has to do is think about how things have evolved with respect to the FDA’s regulation of milk and the dairy industry,” he says. “That is a model we didn’t want to follow.”

Joel Leftwich, managing director of The Glover Park Group, says the regulatory pathway will be fair.

“I think there’s great opportunity to have to enjoy that level playing field that’s built on precedent, that’s built on current law and regulation, and this is just a new and innovative way to bring products to the market,” he says.

The FDA will oversee cell collection, cell banks, and cell growth and the USDA will handle regulations on production, inspection and labeling of the products.   

Dopp and Leftwich spoke to farm broadcasters recently in Washington D.C.