USDA (FSIS) and FDA Announce Joint Meeting on Use of Animal Cell Culture Technology to Develop Products Derived from Poultry and Livestock

On Sept. 10, 2018, the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) of the USDA and FDA announced a joint public hearing scheduled for Oct. 23-24, 2018.

The federal register announcement, explains that this will follow a meeting by FDA’s Science Advisory Board on October 22, 2018. The advisory board will address questions prepared by FDA and USDA.  The intent is “to support a process for identifying potential hazards, assessing risks, and establishing control measures appropriate to each risk for cell cultured food products.”  As the questions are still being developed, further details will be provided at a later date.

The two-day public hearing is scheduled to address safety issues and jurisdictional issues on day 1 and labeling on day 2. Stakeholders will have an opportunity to provide oral comments during the public meeting as well as written comments to the docket. Comments previously submitted in response to the July 12, 2018 FDA public hearing need not be resubmitted.  FSIS and FDA jointly will review these and new comments.  In addition, according to the notice, time has been allotted for audience questions after most presentations delivered during the meeting.

Given the high level of interest early registration is recommended.