Following scientific assessment and public consultation, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has approved its first cell-based food product—quail meat—bringing it one step closer to sale on the market. Next in the approval process, the country’s Food Ministers will have 60 days to consider FSANZ’s decision.

The application for cell-cultured quail meat approval was submitted to FSANZ by the firm Vow Group Pty. Ltd. in 2023.

The approval would allow the sale of lab-grown quail meat and establish new standards in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to provide a clear regulatory framework for future cell-cultured food applications. Under the approval, cell-based foods would be required to display “cell-cultured” or “cell-cultivated” labels to support informed consumer choice.

If Food Ministers do not request a review of the decision, Australia and New Zealand will join a select few group of countries that have approved food made from cultured animal cells, including Singapore, the Netherlands, and the U.S. (although some states have banned the production or sale of lab-grown meat). The UK is working on its approval process for cultivated food products).

On the other hand, Italy passed a law to prohibit cell-based meat sales in 2023.