Vow Food’s Cultivated Quail Receives Regulatory Approval in Australia and New Zealand!

In February 2023, Australian Vow became the first cultivated meat company to seek regulatory approval from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) for its cultivated quail made with embryonic fibroblasts from Coturnix japonica (Japanese quail). The consecutive FSANZ approval process of Vow’s novel food application involved an in-depth review by regulators and public consultation.

In December 2023, FSANZ published its assessment of Vow’s application, concluding that the chemical, nutritional, microbiological, and dietary exposure of the Vow cultivated quail meat as well as the production process present no safety concerns. At the same time, FSANZ issued a call for public comments.

In February 2024, FSANZ completed this first round of public consultation for which FSANZ received 40 submissions. After reviewing the submission feedback, FSANZ decided to make a second call for public comment on Vow cultivated quail to take place between November 2024 and January 2025. During the second public review, FSANZ sought public input on two new draft standards, one new draft schedule, and draft consequential variations to other provisions of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. FSANZ received 22 submissions.

Amendments made to the Code included the addition of “Standard 1.5.4 Cell-cultured foods” and “Schedule 25A” to delineate when a cultivated food product is permitted for sale and labelling requirements and “Standard 3.4.1 – Food safety requirements for processing of cell-cultured food”.

Vow’s cell-cultured quail (Coturnix japonica) was authorized for sale by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) in June 2025, making it the first cultivated meat approval in Australia and New Zealand!