Victorian farmers demand a say on lab-grown milk

In addition, Australian company Eden Brew has applied to bring a lab-grown milk alternative to retail shelves. The application is pending.

“We support innovation, but it must be developed responsibly and in consultation with the industry. The farmers who produce Australia’s milk deserve a seat at the decision-making table,” said Mark Billing, acting president of United Dairyfarmers of Victoria, part of the Victorian Farmers Federation. The organisation is also calling for clear, prominent labelling so that consumers can distinguish conventional dairy products from proteins manufactured using new technologies. According to Billing, if an ingredient is made without milk, this must be clear on the label, alongside any warning needed for people with a milk allergy.

Australian Dairy Farmers President Ben Bennett believes the decision was rushed through. He called for products containing genetically modified milk protein to be labelled as genetically modified. “We’re not allowed to feed genetically modified material to our dairy cows but now it’s being rubber-stamped for human consumption,” Bennett said.

Dairy Australia noted that the Victorian gazette does not constitute national food approval: the relevant application, A1342, is still under assessment by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). A state government spokesperson said labelling would be a priority and that national food standards require cell-cultured foods to be clearly identified.