Italy’s lower house of parliament gave final approval for a law banning the use of laboratory-produced food and animal feed on [November 15] as angry farmers confronted a group of centrist lawmakers opposed to the bill.

The proposal, already approved by the upper house Senate, passed by 159 votes in favour to 53 against, prohibiting the use, sale, import and export of food and feed “from cell cultures or tissue derived from vertebrate animals”.

Factories breaching such rules can be subject to fines of up to 150,000 euros ($162,700) and risk being shut down, while owners may lose their right to obtain public funding for up to three years.

Critics of the bill say producing meat without breeding animals would limit greenhouse gas emissions and provide an option for consumers who would appreciate eating a product that does not involve slaughter.

The opposition warned the government risked breaching EU single market rules by unilaterally banning the product in case the bloc ever decided to make lab food available.

[Agriculture Minister Francesco] Lollobrigida reiterated the ban was needed to protect the food industry.

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