Hungary to Ban Artificial Meat

The Hungarian government is set to prohibit the production and sale of lab-grown meat, following a proposal from the Ministry of Agriculture made public last July.

March 12, 2025

A year later, Vice Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén and Agriculture Minister István Nagy presented a legislative proposal to parliament aimed at banning this type of meat across Hungary, with exceptions only for medical and veterinary uses.

Justification for the Ban

The ministry highlighted concerns regarding the integration of such foods into the human body, emphasizing the need to eliminate potential negative health effects. The proposal notes that unconventional production methods could harbor risks that threaten fundamental values. This reasoning supports the move towards an outright ban on lab-grown meat products.

Broader Concerns Addressed

The Ministry of Agriculture has previously raised various concerns about lab-grown meat, questioning its safety for consumption. Authorities argue this could adversely impact rural sustainability, the environment, and may increase social inequalities.

Notably, Italy was the first country in the European Union to enact a ban on the production and trade of lab-grown meat in 2023.

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