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Paris, France-based cultivated meat start-up Gourmey has filed 'Europe's first' submission to sell its foie gras product made from cultivated duck cells.

This EU submission is one of five simultaneously filed worldwide including Singapore, the US, UK and Switzerland. The firm filed applications with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the UK, the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) and the European Commission (EC) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Regulatory bodies in the US, Singapore and Israel have already approved the sale of certain cultivated products. In the EU, this is the first time a company is seeking novel food approval for cultivated food from the European Commission.

As Gourmey does not use gene-edited or genetically modified cells, its application falls in scope of the novel food regulation. To support the application, the start-up prepared a dossier in accordance with the relevant regulations and EFSA guidance.

Gourmey’s CEO Nicolas Morin-Forest said: “We look forward to continuing to work closely with the regulatory authorities to ensure full compliance with safety requirements throughout these procedures. We are confident that our products will meet these highly demanding standards so that everyone who wants to can enjoy new gourmet experiences all around the world.”

He continued: “The premium segment has always been at the forefront of food trends, where the most exciting innovations occur. We are witnessing thrilling commercial traction for our first product in many regions where chefs want to keep serving high-quality foie gras. Diversifying protein production is crucial for sustaining food security and contributing to sustainability objectives such as decarbonisation and biodiversity.”

“Integrating cultivated food production into existing agrifood value chains provides a complementary protein source that will contribute to resilient food systems. This important milestone for our ecosystem was achieved thanks to fabulous teamwork. Now a new chapter for Gourmey begins – the chapter of bringing French food innovation to the global stage."

Seth Roberts, senior policy manager at the Good Food Institute Europe, said: “It’s fantastic to see the first application to sell cultivated meat in the EU has been submitted. This demonstrates that food innovation can coexist alongside our culinary traditions, providing consumers with foie gras made in a way that could reduce environmental impacts and animal welfare concerns, support investment and provide future-proof jobs.”

The EU regulatory process

Before a cultivated meat product can be sold in Europe, it needs to be approved by the European Commission. The market authorisation of cultivated meat is governed by the Novel Foods Regulation, which is one of the most robust food safety frameworks in the world.

Once the European Commission approves a cultivated meat product, it can be sold across all 27 EU countries. The approval process will include a thorough and evidence-based assessment of the safety and nutritional value of cultivated meat and is estimated to take at least 18 months.

During risk management and the public consultation phase of the process, it also enables the consideration of the potential social, economic and environmental impacts of the food in question. The European Commission and member states have a role in the approvals process alongside scientific experts at the European Food Safety Authority, to ensure authorisation decisions are representative and retain the buy-in of all stakeholders.

Gourmey’s submission comes almost a year after Aleph Farms applied to Swiss and UK regulators to sell its cultivated beef. Two cultivated chicken products were approved for sale in the US in 2023 – Good Meat and Upside Foods – following safety evaluations, and regulators authorised cultivated meat for sale in Singapore in December 2020.

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