Cell-cultivated products: food business hygiene requirements

Introduction 

Cell-cultivated products (CCPs) cover a variety of foods that can be made using a production process without slaughter or traditional farming and agricultural practices. Cells isolated from animals or plants, including cells from meat, seafood, fat, offal, or fertilised eggs are grown in a controlled environment, and then harvested to make a final food product.  

Through the Cell-cultivated products sandbox programme, running from February 2025 to February 2027, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) are deepening our understanding of animal derived CCPs to produce guidance on a range of topics relevant to these products. As we gather more information through the sandbox programme on CCPs as regulated products, we will develop and publish further guidance to help businesses understand how food regulations apply to their products.

Legal status of guidance 

This guidance reflects the FSA and FSS’s interpretation of the legal requirements and does not constitute an authoritative interpretation of the law. It has been created to provide guidance on the legal requirements to produce CCPs and should be read together with the relevant legislation.   

Food businesses are responsible for complying with food law. This guidance document cannot cover every scenario, and it is recommended that you consider relevant legislation to understand how it applies to your circumstances. You do not have to follow this guidance. Other ways of following the law may be equally valid.