France-based cultivated-meat manufacturer Gourmey has applied to sell its flagship product in the EU, as well as four other markets.

The company has requested approval to sell its cultivated duck product, which Gourmey said is an alternative to foie gras, in the UK, the US, Singapore and Switzerland as well.

Paris-based Gourmey said it claims a first to request “novel food approval for cultivated foods” in the EU.

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with the regulatory authorities to ensure full compliance with safety requirements throughout these procedures,” said Gourmey’s CEO Nicolas Morin-Forest.

“We are confident that our products will meet these highly demanding standards, so that everyone who wants to can enjoy new gourmet experiences all around the world.”

The business was founded in 2019 by Morin-Forest, technology officer Dr Victor Sayous and cell biologist and chief scientific officer Antoine Davydoff.

Since its inception, Gourmey has secured over €65m ($71m) in public and private investments and is currently preparing for market entry, pending regulatory approvals.

“Diversifying protein production is crucial for sustaining food security and contributing to sustainability objectives such as decarbonisation and biodiversity,” said Morin-Forest.

“Integrating cultivated-food production into existing agrifood value chains provides a complementary protein source that will contribute to resilient food systems.”

Seth Roberts, senior policy manager at the Good Food Institute Europe, said: “It’s fantastic to see the first application to sell cultivated meat in the EU has been submitted.

“This demonstrates that food innovation can coexist alongside our culinary traditions, providing consumers with foie gras made in a way that could reduce environmental impacts and animal welfare concerns, support investment and provide future-proof jobs.”

Before a cultivated meat product can be sold in Europe, it needs to be approved by the European Commission. The market authorisation for cultivated meat is governed by the Novel Foods Regulation, which the GFI labelled “one of the most robust food safety frameworks in the world”. 

Earlier this month, UK cell-based protein business Meatly received regulatory clearance to sell cultivated meat for use in pet food in its home market, a first in Europe.

London-based Meatly described the news as “a huge leap forward for the cultivated-meat industry” after passing the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) “rigorous inspection process”.