USDA’s FSIS and FDA released a formal agreement to address the regulatory oversight of human food products derived from the cells of livestock and poultry, which describes the oversight roles and responsibilities for both agencies and how they will collaborate to regulate the development and entry of these products into commerce. This shared regulatory approach will ensure that cell-cultured products derived from the livestock and poultry cell lines are produced safely and are accurately labeled.

Under the formal agreement, the agencies establish a joint regulatory framework wherein FDA oversees cell collection, cell banks, and cell growth and differentiation. A transition from FDA to FSIS oversight will occur during the cell harvest stage. FSIS will oversee production and labeling of human food products derived from livestock and poultry cells.