The Washington, DC-based North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and the Alliance for Meat, Poultry and Seafood Innovation (AMPS Innovation), an industry coalition representing the makers of cell-based/cultured meat, poultry and seafood, on October 19 sent a joint letter to the US Department of Agriculture, calling on the agency to support mandatory labeling of cell-based/cultured meat and poultry products and to solicit input on what that labeling should look like through an Advance Notice of Public Rulemaking.
Full text of the letter can be accessed here.
Under a joint framework for regulation of cell-based/cultured meat, poultry and seafood products, which was agreed to by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March of 2019, the two agencies will work together to ensure the safety and labeling of cell-based/cultured meat and poultry products. Among other provisions of the framework, FSIS will have oversight of the labeling of cell-based/cultured meat and poultry, as it does for all meat and poultry sold in the United States, while the FDA will oversee the labeling of cell-based/cultured seafood, as it does for most seafood sold in the United States.
In a recent public presentation, the agencies committed to joint principles for product labeling and labeling claims. The October 19 letter does not address seafood specifically, but it was shared with the FDA to support the continued collaboration between the two agencies’ responsibilities and processes. Separately, on October 6, 2020, the FDA issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the labeling of cell-based/cultured seafood products.
About AMPS Innovation
The Alliance for Meat, Poultry & Seafood Innovation is working to advance new methods of producing real, high-quality, safe meat, poultry and seafood products directly from cells, which, in partnership with the broader agricultural community, will help meet the demands of feeding a growing global population. AMPS Innovation advocates for our industry through sharing our collective expertise, providing insight into our innovation, and committing to safety and transparency with all stakeholders, including industry partners, policymakers, advocates and consumers.
About NAMI
The North American Meat Institute is the leading voice for the meat and poultry industry in the United States. Its members process the vast majority of US beef, pork, lamb and turkey, as well as manufacture the equipment and ingredients needed to safely produce high quality meat and poultry products.
