Last January, Minister of Agriculture István Nagy had already hinted that the government would ban artificial meats. At that time, the minister consulted with Ettore Prandini, president of the Italian farmers’ organization Coldiretti, after Italy had previously banned the production and sale of synthetic meats.

The government followed Italy’s example: Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén submitted the draft law, as reported by hvg.hu. According to the proposal, we do not yet have a reassuring answer to the challenges posed by technologies that differ from traditional methods. The presumed negative effects make the general ban on the production and distribution of lab-grown meat justified.

Exceptions to the ban can only be made in the narrowest of circumstances. Accordingly, the production and marketing of lab-grown meat would only be permitted for medical and veterinary purposes.

Thus, according to the proposal, it will be prohibited to produce and market lab-grown meat, which is made from animal cells or tissues under artificial conditions outside of the living organism.

If the law is passed, violations will be met with strict penalties.