Evidence-based regulation

The Good Food Institute Europe’s policy team works to ensure a transparent and robust authorisation process for alternative proteins including plant-based and cultivated meat.

Political meeting

Why is evidence-based regulation important for alternative proteins?

Blue Nalu cultured fish

For alternative meat, seafood, eggs and dairy to fulfil their potential to create a more sustainable, secure and just food system, consumers need to be confident in them.

Producers wanting to market cultivated meat and seafood — as well as certain plant-based and fermentation-made foods — must first apply to regulatory authorities for product approval. 

European countries have some of the most robust food safety standards in the world. In Europe, most alternative proteins requiring pre-market approval will follow specific regulatory frameworks for novel foods and – in some cases – genetically modified foods.


“Consumers need confidence in plant-based and cultivated meat in order to make sustainable choices.”

Seth Roberts, gfi europe policy manager

How are alternative proteins regulated in Europe?

European Parliament Strasbourg

European Union

Some new foods in the alternative protein space such as cultivated meat and precision fermentation dairy need to be authorised by regulators before they can be sold in Europe. In the EU, once regulators approve a new product, it can be sold across all 27 EU countries – plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The authorisation process includes a thorough and evidence-based assessment of the products’ safety and nutritional value, and is estimated to take at least 18 months.

Other European countries

Several other European countries, including the UK, have a similar regulatory framework in place for the assessment and authorisation of new alternative protein ingredients​. Switzerland acknowledges approvals under the EU’s novel foods process, but has a separate framework for genetically modified foods.

GFI around the world

How are alternative proteins regulated around the world?

Learn more about how global governments, from Canada to Singapore, are regulating alternative proteins like cultivated meat and precision fermentation dairy.

How GFI Europe supports evidence-based alternative protein regulation

GFI Europe works with public authorities, food safety experts and businesses to ensure a transparent and robust authorisation process for alternative proteins.

What we do

  • We inform and advise regulatory agencies about innovations and future developments in the alternative protein sector.
  • We connect producers to technical experts who can support them with preparing an application and throughout the risk assessment and risk management stages.
  • We monitor regulatory approval processes and advocate for them to be transparent and evidence-based so that consumers can be confident in the food they eat.

How you can help

GFI Europe is 100% powered by philanthropy. Our work to evidence-based regulation for alternative proteins is only possible thanks to the generosity of our global family of donors. With your support, we can ensure more governments implement clear regulatory frameworks for a sustainable, secure and just food system.

Seth Roberts – photo by Barbara Evripidou/FirstAvenuePhotography.com

Our regulation expert

Seth Roberts leads our work to secure a clear and evidence-based regulatory path to market for plant-based and fermentation-made foods, and cultivated meat.

Latest news on alternative protein regulation

Italy ban on cultivated meat cuts itself off from innovation and blocks sustainable development

The Italian Chamber of Deputies has passed a law banning the production and marketing of cultivated meat and the use…

L’Italia vieta la carne coltivata: il paese rischia di essere tagliato fuori dall’innovazione e di bloccare lo sviluppo sostenibile

The Italian Chamber of Deputies has passed a law banning the production and marketing of cultivated meat and the use…

EU flags

Il Parlamento Europeo Avanza Verso Proteine Alternative: Un Approccio Innovativo Contrapposto all’Italia sulla Carne Coltivata

La recente relazione del Parlamento Europeo sulla EU Protein Strategy è un passo avanti verso una produzione e un consumo…

Italian Government avoids EU scrutiny on planned cultivated meat ban and plant-based label restrictions

Italy has withdrawn its proposals from the EU scrutiny process, but remains committed to passing law to ban cultivated meat…

cultivated meatballs and spaghetti

Italian parliamentary hearings on cultivated meat impossible to attend for key experts

The newly formed Italian Complementary Protein Alliance, representing a cross-section of stakeholders with interests in Italy’s agri-food landscape, was unable…

cultivated meatballs and spaghetti

Gruppo di esperti non può partecipare alle audizioni parlamentari sulla carne coltivata

All’Alleanza Italiana per le Proteine Complementari, recentemente costituita, non è stato possibile prendere parte alle audizioni poiché sono diventate pubbliche…

Aleph Farms make Europe’s first cultivated meat approval submission to Swiss Regulators

Cultivated meat may soon reach European plates as Aleph Farms today became the first company to apply for cultivated meat regulatory approval…

Historic approval of cultivated meat in the US shows Europe is falling behind

American consumers will soon be able to buy cultivated meat. European governments must invest and make the regulatory process transparent…