The startup Meatly has announced it has received regulatory clearance to sell cultivated meat for pet food in the UK, marking it as the first in the world to gain authorisation for cultivated pet food. This milestone represents a significant leap forward for the cultivated meat industry, with Meatly becoming the first-ever company approved for sale in any European country.

The public announcement followed a collaborative effort between Meatly and the UK’s regulatory bodies, including the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). These UK Government departments ensured Meatly complied with all necessary regulations, and Meatly successfully passed APHA’s rigorous inspection process. Meatly will continue to adhere to APHA’s ongoing inspections.

As a result, Meatly’s cultivated chicken for pet food can now be sold in the UK.

Meatly has taken proactive steps beyond regulatory approvals by preparing a detailed safety dossier and conducting extensive testing to ensure its cultivated chicken is safe and healthy for pets. This testing confirmed that its chicken is free from bacteria, viruses, GMOs, antibiotics, harmful pathogens, heavy metals, and other impurities. The nutrients used to grow the cells were also verified as safe.

This year, Meatly plans to launch the first samples of its commercially available pet food, making it the first cultivated pet food sold. Following these initial samples, Meatly's primary focus will shift to reducing costs and scaling production to industrial volumes within the next three years.

Regulatory approval comes on the heels of several key milestones that have positioned Meatly at the forefront of the cultivated meat industry. Leading a new wave of startups, Meatly has demonstrated that there is a low-capital, fast route to market. With £3.5 million in investment, Meatly achieved regulatory approval in under two years and developed a cost-effective, protein-free media at less than £1 per litre, significantly lowering production expenses. Additionally, Meatly has secured brand partnerships with leading pet food brands to produce its products.

Commenting on the announcement, Owen Ensor, Meatly CEO said: “Today marks a significant milestone for the European cultivated meat industry. I’m incredibly proud that Meatly is the first company in Europe to get the green light to sell cultivated meat. We are proving that there is a safe and low-capital way to rapidly bring cultivated meat to market.

“We’re delighted to have worked proactively alongside the UK’s regulators to showcase that Meatly chicken is safe and healthy for pets. Pet parents are crying out for a better way to feed their cats and dogs meat – we’re so excited to meet this demand. We can now continue our mission to give consumers an easy choice – ensuring we can feed our beloved pets the real meat they need and crave, in a way that is kinder to our planet and other animals.”

Jim Mellon, Founder of Agronomics, an investor in Meatly, added: “Meatly’s regulatory approval is a landmark event for the industry. Through its technological innovation and close work with governing authorities, Meatly is helping prove that we can succeed in commercialising cultivated products for pets across the UK. Our pets consume huge amounts of meat every day and so this development can play a crucial part in reducing the emissions, resource consumption, and animal suffering caused by traditional meat production.”