Italy is set to approve a ban on lab-grown meat

According to Reuters, the bill proposal still needs to be passed by parliament, and they’ll be the ones to determine if “cell cultures or tissues derived from vertebrate animals” are to be banned.

However, it would mean that any company who breaches the ban faces fines up to $65,022 (£52,095).

Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, who is a senior member of Prime Minister Giogia Meloni’s right-wing party, Brothers of Italy, certainly seems in favour of the ban, too.

“Laboratory products in our opinion do not guarantee quality, well-being and the protection of our culture, our tradition,” he said.

The move has divided opinion online, with some stating that other countries should follow suit, whilst others claimed the move was a blow for animal rights and environmental reasons.

Head of policy at the Good Food Institute Europe, Alice Ravenscroft, said: “The passing of such a law would shut down the economic potential of this nascent field in Italy, holding back scientific progress and climate mitigation efforts

Meanwhile, Anti-vivisection group LAV dubbed the group “an ideological, anti-scientific crusade against progress.”