In Singapore, Islamic scholars have declared cultivated meat halal if the cell lines come from species Muslims are permitted to eat, such as chicken or beef. Pork remained off-limits, according to the ruling, which also states all ingredients in the final product must also be halal and the product is clean and non-toxic.
According to Green Queen, the fatwa from the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura is a key hurdle for cultivated meat consumption in the country, where just over 15% of the population is Muslim. Singapore became the first country to approve a cultivated meat product for human consumption—Eat Just’s cultivated chicken bites—in 2020.
“Building a truly inclusive, efficient and secure protein production system requires making high-quality, nutrient-rich, and culturally relevant foods available to every facet of society,” said Mirte Gosker, managing director of Good Food Institute APAC. “With Muis’s precedent-setting announcement, Singapore is bringing that bold vision one step closer to reality.”