The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have published new guidance to help businesses export cell-cultivated products from Great Britain to non-EU countries. This guidance, released on 12 November 2026, was developed through the FSA and FSS Cell-Cultivated Products Sandbox Programme.
The new document combines export requirements from government bodies including HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST), and Defra. It outlines practical steps for companies intending to export cell-cultivated products of animal origin, covering aspects such as checking destination country eligibility, GB establishment requirements, export health certification, customs declarations, cold chain management, labelling, and documentation.
Dr Thomas Vincent, Deputy Director of the Sandbox and Innovation at the Food Standards Agency, stated that businesses had prioritised understanding the cross-government export process. He added that the guidance aims to help companies access new markets and grow their businesses, given the international growth of the cell-cultivated food market. The guidance does not guarantee market access, which depends on the laws and import conditions of the destination country.