Leading Islamic authority approves cultivated meat for muslim consumption

QATAR – A leading Islamic legal body has announced that cultivated meat can be considered permissible for Muslims, provided that it meets specific religious and safety standards.

The decision was made during the 26th International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) Conference held in Doha, where religious scholars and experts debated the status of lab-grown meat and genetically modified foods under Islamic law.

Attended by 230 specialists from over 60 nations, the conference addressed a range of contemporary topics including artificial intelligence, food innovation, and gaming.

During the discussions, the IIFA stated that Muslims may consume cultivated meat as long as the source cells are taken from halal animals and those animals are slaughtered in accordance with Islamic guidelines.

In addition, the cell culture medium must not contain any forbidden substances such as blood or blood-derived components, which rules out the use of fetal bovine serum.

The panel also emphasized that cultivated meat products must be developed under reliable regulatory systems to ensure transparency and food safety.

Moreover, the Academy advised that cultivated meat should act as a complement to traditional meat, not as a full replacement.

As for genetically modified foods, the IIFA stated these can be consumed if the source animals are halal and the food is processed safely and within the framework of Islamic principles.

Religious authorities also highlighted the importance of making ingredient and production method information clearly available to Muslim consumers.

This ruling makes the IIFA the third major Islamic body to support the permissibility of lab-grown meat under certain conditions.

In 2024, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore released a similar fatwa, which was echoed by the Korean Muslim Federation earlier this year.

Saudi Arabia-based scholars also issued a favorable opinion in 2023, and the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America had provisionally allowed it in 2022.

With the global halal meat market expected to expand by 7% annually and reach US$1.6 trillion by 2032, cultivated meat producers are taking note.

A 2023 survey of 44 companies showed that 87% considered halal compliance a priority, although many lacked clear guidance on how to meet certification standards.

Groups like the Good Food Institute APAC say the new ruling could help pave the way for regulatory cooperation and formal halal certification frameworks across Asia and beyond.

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