A new law banning laboratory-produced meat looks likely to be passed in the Italian parliament. While many countries are identifying ways to protect the environment from carbon emissions by producing synthetic foods, the new Italian government has decided to buck the trend, claiming the move is aimed at the “protection of the Italian food and wine culture and tradition”.

In a move backed by Italian farmers, the proposals would see those that break the ban facing fines of €60,000 (approx. £53,000), with the head of the new ministry for agriculture and food sovereignty, Francesco Lollobrigida, citing the country’s Mediterranean diet as the motivation.

“Laboratory products do not guarantee quality, well-being and the protection of the Italian food and wine culture and tradition, to which part of our tradition is linked,” said Lollobrigida.

The proposals were approved by Italian government ministers this week, the bill seeking to ban synthetic foods produced from animal cells without killing the animal, and would apply to laboratory-produced fish and other synthetically-produced food products.

The move could see Italy come into conflict with the European Union, with the country being unable to oppose any sale of synthetic meat produced within the EU; the European Commission recently indicating that it sees cell-based agriculture “as a promising and innovative solution” and any sale of synthetic meat within member states would come under the free movement of goods and services.

Laboratory-produced meat is seen as an “ethical alternative” to the more traditional version, and important in environmental sustainability and food safety.