What are cell-cultured foods?
Cell-cultured foods are made by growing isolated animal or plant cells in a controlled culture environment. These cells are then processed into an ingredient or food product.
To date, cell-cultured food products assessed and approved by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) have used animal cells. This technology does not produce a whole animal. It produces food intended as an alternative to conventional products such as minced meat, steak or chicken fillets.
How are cell-cultured foods regulated?
Cell-cultured foods are regulated under food standards that came into effect in Australia and New Zealand in June 2025. These standards apply to cells sourced from livestock, poultry, game, seafood or eggs and embryos from these sources.
The standards cover production, sale and labelling requirements.
- Standard 1.5.4 – Cell-cultured foods
Sets out general requirements and mandatory labelling, including use of the statement “cell-cultured” or “cell-cultivated” for food identification purposes. - Standard 3.4.1 – Food safety requirements for processing of cell-cultured food (Australia only)
Covers food safety requirements for production and processing, including controls on inputs, equipment, premises and monitoring. - Schedule 25A – Permitted cell-cultured foods
Lists approved foods and any specific conditions for sale or labelling.
Only approved cell-cultured foods can be sold in Australia and New Zealand. To be approved, foods must undergo an assessment following an application to FSANZ.
The assessment includes consideration of the cell line, how the cells are grown, the substances used in the process and the final food product.
How are other countries regulating cell-cultured foods?
A small number of countries have approved cell-cultured foods, using different regulatory approaches.
- Singapore was the first to approve a cell-cultured food in 2020. The Singapore Food Agency regulates these products as novel foods.
- The United States (US) approved its first cell-cultured food in 2023. Regulation is shared between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which jointly oversee safety and labelling.
- Israel approved its first cell-cultured food in 2024. These products are regulated as new foods by the Israeli Ministry of Health, which is responsible for safety assessment and approval.
- In the European Union cell-cultured foods are regulated as novel foods, with scientific assessment undertaken by the European Food Safety Authority. Apple fruit cell-culture biomass was approved in 2023. Other applications are currently under assessment.
- Other countries, including China, Japan and South Korea, are developing their regulatory frameworks.
Importation of cell-cultured foods to Australia and New Zealand
FSANZ approval of cell-cultured food does not mean it can be imported. Import requirements are managed separately in each country.
Importing into Australia
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) manages food imports.
Food safety risk advice is being developed to inform import controls under the Imported Food Control Act 1992. These controls may include government certification to ensure imported products achieve comparable safety outcomes to those produced domestically.
Foreign governments may apply for a government certification arrangement through DAFF. These arrangements apply to certain foods classified as risk food for import into Australia.
Importing into New Zealand
Import requirements are the responsibility of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
Importers must meet requirements under the Biosecurity Act 1993, including any relevant import health standard.
There is currently no import health standard for cell‑cultured food products or the cell lines used to produce them. Importers may request the development of a standard.
Where import is permitted, importers must also meet food safety requirements under the Food Act 2014. For cell-cultured foods, this would include confirming the product has been approved by FSANZ.
Important information in relation to products from bovine origin
Only beef and beef products derived from animals free from bovine spongiform encephalopathy can be sold in Australia. This applies to cell-cultured foods derived from bovine cell lines or containing bovine inputs, such as fetal calf serum.
In New Zealand, there is currently no import health standard for the importation of cell-cultured products derived from bovine cells.
For detailed information on import requirements and products of bovine origin, refer to guidance for Australia and New Zealand.