The Hungarian Parliament has approved a ban on lab-grown meat, citing health and environmental concerns.

The Hungarian Parliament adopted on Tuesday a law that bans the production and sale of lab-grown meat, due to concerns that it may be unhealthy. The government led by Viktor Orban argued that synthetic meat raises serious questions and that there are assumptions regarding the safety of its consumption.

The Ministry of Agriculture argued that the ecological footprint of lab-grown meat is large and that it contributes to social inequalities. The ban will come into effect soon, applying to all products obtained from animal cells and tissues in artificial conditions, but will exclude vegan products. Additionally, medicinal uses of lab-grown meat are exempt. Currently, the sale of lab-grown meat is not authorized in the European Union, although some French companies have started production. Italy was the first country in the EU to ban this practice in November 2023.