NEW TECH FOODS

Israel’s Aleph Farms has submitted an application for regulatory approval in Thailand.

The safety dossier was submitted to BIOTEC, a Thai governmental agency designated by the Thailand Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) to serve as the Safety Assessment Unit for cultivated meat products.

The submission marks the ‘first’ step towards obtaining approval from the Thai FDA, and aims to enable the sale of Aleph Cuts in Thailand and is part of Aleph Farms' collaboration with Thai Union. Last year, Aleph submitted a dossier to the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) for approval of its cultivated beef steaks in the UK.

Didier Toubia, CEO and co-founder of Aleph Farms, said: “Thailand...is actively positioning itself for a successful transition to novel foods. This strategic move provides fertile ground for the country to emerge as a regional leader in cellular agriculture, underscoring its commitment to fostering a just and inclusive shift toward sustainable and secure food systems.”

Toubia continued: “Like many of its neighbouring countries, Thailand currently imports the majority of its beef. Our latest submission for a regulatory approval in Thailand marks a significant milestone in Aleph Farms’ operational roadmap for Southeast Asia and the broader APAC region. We look forward to collaborating closely with the regulatory agencies in Thailand to help shape the regulatory landscape for novel foods and build consumer trust in this emerging category of animal products.”

In February, Aleph Farms entered into a strategic partnership with BBGI, a manufacturer and distributor of bio-based products, and Fermbox Bio, a synthetic biology research and manufacturing company. This collaboration aims to produce cultivated meat at Thailand’s first cellular agriculture production plant.

Yifat Gavriel, Aleph’s chief of regulatory affairs, quality assurance and product safety, commented: “Prior to the submission, Aleph Farms and Thai Union spent nearly a year conducting extensive preparatory work and collaborating closely with the regulatory agencies in Thailand. This partnership was crucial in establishing the foundational regulatory framework needed to support this groundbreaking first submission for cultivated meat in Thailand. This proactive engagement not only laid the essential groundwork but also paved the way for an innovative regulatory path forward."

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