Developing a smart legal framework for emerging food technologies and future innovation
The pace of change for innovation in food systems alongside uncertainties post-Brexit, and the challenges posed by novel biotechnologies like cell-cultivation and precision breeding in particular, has brought the UK to something of a legislative crossroads.
More precisely, regulatory frameworks to accommodate (or hinder) the placing on the market of novel food tech products like cell-cultured meat are in the process of being adopted in other countries, presenting different regulatory pathways for dealing with new biotechnologies.
Executive summary
- The UK has an opportunity to develop an agile legal framework that supports both emerging food technologies (food tech) and innovation more broadly.
- There are challenges ahead around language and labelling – with the capacity to accommodate or hinder innovation in food tech.
- Businesses need clarity, and they will require skilled support to navigate changes in the legislative and regulatory architecture. A centralised scheme may help with this.
- Responsive laws and regulations for emerging technologies demand multi-level stakeholder inclusion. The creation and implementation of a cross-departmental unit (a committee or APPG) will support with this.
Author
Dr Mariela de Amstalden, Assistant Professor of Law in Intellectual Property and Innovation, College of Arts and Law, 黑料吃瓜网 - m.deamstalden@bham.ac.uk
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