Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 4/16/19



Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R. Miss.) has introduced legislation that would give USDA the primary charge to regulate, inspect and label cell-based meat and poultry products.

Amending existing federal meat and poultry inspection laws, the Cell-Cultured Meat & Poultry Regulation Act of 2019 would codify the responsibilities of both the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration  (FDA) in their jurisdiction of cell-based food products.

USDA and FDA have agreed on a joint regulatory approach in which USDA jurisdiction kicks in once a cell-based meat product is produced from the process of culturing animal cells. However, that agreement states it “does not create binding, enforceable obligations against either Agency,” and that it is subject to “the availability of personnel, resources, and funds.”

“While I am encouraged by the USDA-FDA framework, it is nonbinding and subject to modification or termination every three years,” Hyde-Smith said in a news release. “My bill essentially codifies the terms of that agreement. The fact that FDA and USDA have agreed to identify necessary changes to statutory authority confirms the need for a legislative fix as I’ve proposed.”

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