Italy on Thursday became the first European Union nation to ban the production and sale of lab-grown meat. Citing health concerns and a need to safeguard its livestock industry, Italy's lower house approved the ban.

<h2>What is banned?</h2>

The nation has banned the so-called cultivated meat&nbsp;that is grown in labs using animal tissue cells.

It also places a ban on the use of labels that describe plant-based protein as meat. As per AFP, every violation of this ban can chalk up fines ranging from 10,000 to 60,000 euros ($10,900-$65,000).&nbsp;

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The law received a green light from Italy's senate earlier. The law says it seeks to "protect the national livestock heritage" while recognising its cultural, socio-economic and environmental value.

It also seeks to ensure "a high level of protection of human health", while protecting the interests of consumers and their right to information about what they are eating.

<h2>Cultivate meat and&nbsp;Italy</h2>

Italy's main agricultural lobby Coldiretti calls lab-grown meat 'Frankenstein' meat. On Thursday, the organisation said the law represents "a commitment to defend the Mediterranean diet".&nbsp;

Italy's Agriculture Minister, Francesco Lollobrigida, said that cultivated meat "interrupts the virtuous relationship between land, man and work that for millennia has accompanied us and allowed us to maintain the land".

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However, an Italian non-profit, The International Organisation for the Protection of Animals criticises the law, calling it pointless.&nbsp;

"This ban is completely useless today since cultured meat has not yet been approved for human consumption in Europe and therefore cannot be marketed."

<h2>EU and lab-grown meat</h2>

The European Union, as per AFP,&nbsp;considers lab-grown meat a 'novel food' which means that any new product will be subject to authorisation from the bloc. If the bloc approves cultivated meat, Italy cannot ban it.

As of now, the meat is not allowed to be sold in the EU. However, companies in the US have been raising money for research into the new science.

(With inputs from agencies)

Italy on Thursday became the first European Union nation to ban the production and sale of lab-grown meat. Citing health concerns and a need to safeguard its livestock industry, Italy's lower house approved the ban.

Italy on Thursday became the first European Union nation to ban the production and sale of lab-grown meat. Citing health concerns and a need to safeguard its livestock industry, Italy's lower house approved the ban. What is banned? The nation has banned the so-called cultivated meat that is grown in labs using animal tissue cells. It also places a ban on the use of labels that describe plant-based protein as meat. As per AFP, every violation of this ban can chalk up fines ranging from 10,000 to 60,000 euros ($10,900-$65,000). Also read | 'Revolutionary': Scientists have developed two promising medications for 'bad' cholesterol The law received a green light from Italy's senate earlier. The law says it seeks to "protect the national livestock heritage" while recognising its cultural, socio-economic and environmental value. It also seeks to ensure "a high level of protection of human health", while protecting the interests of consumers and their right to information about what they are eating. Cultivate meat and Italy Italy's main agricultural lobby Coldiretti calls lab-grown meat 'Frankenstein' meat. On Thursday, the organisation said the law represents "a commitment to defend the Mediterranean diet". Italy's Agriculture Minister, Francesco Lollobrigida, said that cultivated meat "interrupts the virtuous relationship between land, man and work that for millennia has accompanied us and allowed us to maintain the land". Also read | Rare! Researchers find 70-million-year old dinosaur species that slept like modern-day birds However, an Italian non-profit, The International Organisation for the Protection of Animals criticises the law, calling it pointless. "This ban is completely useless today since cultured meat has not yet been approved for human consumption in Europe and therefore cannot be marketed." EU and lab-grown meat The European Union, as per AFP, considers lab-grown meat a 'novel food' which means that any new product will be subject to authorisation from the bloc. If the bloc approves cultivated meat, Italy cannot ban it. As of now, the meat is not allowed to be sold in the EU. However, companies in the US have been raising money for research into the new science. (With inputs from agencies)

Italy bans lab-grown 'frankenstein' meat citing health concerns and need to safeguard livestock industry

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs just unveiled its official Five-Year Agricultural Plan, which includes farmed meat for the first time.

The research discusses how innovation in "border and cross-disciplinary technologies," which include farmed meat, should be promoted.

According to GFI APAC, this indicates that Chinese officials feel farmed meat production is in the national interest, making it very probable that the government will increase investment in the sector.&nbsp;

The Chinese government has already taken steps in the direction of lab - grown meat, announcing in June a three-year government-funded initiative named "High-efficiency biological manufacturing technology of artificial meat."

Several alternative protein research teams have received funding from China's National Natural Science Foundation, and the China Meat Food Research Center and Beijing Academy of Food Sciences are working on technologies to 3D print cultured meat. 
 
Watch | Israelis taste the future with lab-grown chicken

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israelis-taste-the-future-with-lab-grown-chicken-393535/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Meanwhile, China's Ministry of Science and Technology has developed a programme dubbed "Green Biological Manufacturing" to fund sustainability-focused research initiatives, including a number of plant-based and cultured meat-related ventures.&nbsp;

Many Chinese enterprises are working on cultured meat, in addition to government-funded research initiatives.

HEROTEIN, a Shanghai-based alternative meat company, is collaborating with Mission Barns, a cultivated fat producer based in the United States, to bring hybrid cultivated and plant-based meats to market.

According to research, Chinese customers are significantly more accepting of cultured meat than Western consumers, with a recent survey suggesting that 90% of Chinese consumers would eat it.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs just unveiled its official Five-Year Agricultural Plan, which includes farmed meat for the first time. The research discusses how innovation in "border and cross-disciplinary technologies," which include farmed meat, should be promoted.

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs just unveiled its official Five-Year Agricultural Plan, which includes farmed meat for the first time. The research discusses how innovation in "border and cross-disciplinary technologies," which include farmed meat, should be promoted. According to GFI APAC, this indicates that Chinese officials feel farmed meat production is in the national interest, making it very probable that the government will increase investment in the sector. The Chinese government has already taken steps in the direction of lab - grown meat, announcing in June a three-year government-funded initiative named "High-efficiency biological manufacturing technology of artificial meat." Several alternative protein research teams have received funding from China's National Natural Science Foundation, and the China Meat Food Research Center and Beijing Academy of Food Sciences are working on technologies to 3D print cultured meat. Watch | Israelis taste the future with lab-grown chicken Meanwhile, China's Ministry of Science and Technology has developed a programme dubbed "Green Biological Manufacturing" to fund sustainability-focused research initiatives, including a number of plant-based and cultured meat-related ventures. Many Chinese enterprises are working on cultured meat, in addition to government-funded research initiatives. HEROTEIN, a Shanghai-based alternative meat company, is collaborating with Mission Barns, a cultivated fat producer based in the United States, to bring hybrid cultivated and plant-based meats to market. According to research, Chinese customers are significantly more accepting of cultured meat than Western consumers, with a recent survey suggesting that 90% of Chinese consumers would eat it. (With inputs from agencies)

'Lab-grown meat': China’s 5-year agricultural plan with ‘future foods’

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