Ministry of Agriculture's 'lab-grown meat' ultimatum: ''It will never be produced or consumed in Turkey''

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has issued a denial regarding 'lab-grown meat' claims circulating on social media. Drawing attention to the new regulation published in the Official Gazette, the ministry stated, "The ban on lab-grown meat has been reinforced with a much stronger legal barrier."

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has put an end to the claims that "permission will be granted for the production of lab-grown meat," which sparked significant debate in the food market and on social media. Responding to the manipulations surrounding the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Novel Foods, the ministry announced that, contrary to what is being claimed, the new regulation has made the bans much stricter.

"THE BAN ON LAB-GROWN MEAT HAS GAINED A MUCH STRONGER BARRIER"

In a statement made on the ministry's official social media accounts, the following clear messages were given regarding the regulation and the implementation communiqué that entered into force after being published in the Official Gazette on May 20:

"Contrary to what is claimed, the new regulation has provided the 'ban on lab-grown meat' with a much stronger legal basis and barrier. The production and consumption of lab-grown meat within the borders of Turkey is not in question in any way and never will be."

"LEGAL OBSTACLE TO CELL AND TISSUE CULTURES"

In the statement, which drew attention to the details of the term "novel food" in the regulation, it was noted that products not widely consumed in the country before December 31, 2025, were included in this scope. Emphasizing that a product must undergo a scientific risk assessment and be included in an additional list before it can be placed on the market, the statement explained that no legal loopholes were left with the following words:

"The phrase 'obtained from organisms such as plants, microorganisms' in the regulation closes the door even to applications for cell and tissue cultures to be produced from animal tissues in a laboratory. For this reason, not even an application can be made for 'lab-grown meat' or any product resembling it in our country."

"WE ARE PROTECTING OUR LIVESTOCK AND CULTURAL SENSIBILITIES"

Underlining that the stance against lab-grown meat products produced with cell culture in laboratory environments will continue uncompromisingly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry stated, "Protecting natural production, our domestic livestock, consumer health, and our social and cultural sensibilities is our most fundamental priority."