USA – US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, DVM and US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD today announced a joint public meeting to be held on Oct. 23-24, 2018 to discuss the use of cell culture technology to develop products derived from livestock and poultry
The joint public meeting, hosted by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the FDA, will focus on the potential hazards, oversight considerations, and labelling of cell cultured food products derived from livestock and poultry.
“This is an important opportunity to hear from the agricultural industry and consumers as we consider the regulatory framework for these new products,” said Secretary Perdue. “American farmers and ranchers feed the world, but as technology advances, we must consider how to inspect and regulate to ensure food safety, regardless of the production method.”
“The FDA knows just how vital it is to ensure the safety of our nation’s food supply and the critical role of science-based, modern regulatory frameworks in fostering innovation. Recent advances in animal cell cultured food products present many important and timely technical and regulatory considerations for the FDA and our partners at USDA,” said Commissioner Gottlieb. “We look forward to the opportunity to hold a meeting with our USDA colleagues as part of an open public dialogue regarding these products.”
The first day of the meeting will focus primarily on the potential hazards that need to be controlled for the safe production of animal cell cultured food products and oversight considerations by regulatory agencies. The second day of the meeting will focus on labelling considerations.
Representatives of industry, consumer groups and other stakeholders are invited to participate in the meeting. Attendees are encouraged to pre-register to attend the meeting. Pre-registration is available at the Meetings and Eventspage on the FSIS website. The meeting will be held on 23 October 2018 from 8:30am to 4:00pm, and 24 October 2018 from 8:30am to 3:00pm in the Jefferson Auditorium in the US Department of Agriculture South Building, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC, 20250.
Anyone who wishes to submit written comments prior to the public meeting or after the meeting may do so by submitting comments on regulations.gov by 26 November 2018. Comments previously submitted to FDA in regard to the 12 July 2018 public meeting will also be considered.