Just commenting in the likelihood of a full-EU ban being low. FWIW I don’t think it is currently more likely to happen than not, but I think you are underestimate the risk.
To block a regulation or legislation in the European Union under qualified majority voting rules, a “blocking minority” must be formed by at least four member states and represent more than 35% of the EU population.
Italy and Hungary have already banned cultivated meat. The Romanian Senate has also approved a ban (although I don’t think it has been implemented). France and Austria have also called for moratoriums or greater regulation, and these countries could plausibly tip over into a ban. These five countries alone would lead to a ban at the EU level. Or if some other countries abstain rather than voting in favour of cultivated meat, it becomes even easier for fewer than these five countries to secure a ban.
Those are great points, thanks, I think you are right. On the other hand, I think my argument was that if the “science is solved” and cultivated meat became cheaper and more environmentally friendly, I don’t see the current state of factory farming as a stable equilibrium situation: I don’t think it is reasonable to expect an indefinite protection of a more expensive, more polluting and less worker friendly economic sector in favour of another. Eg, a ban might be feasible, but it may not be sustainable in decade-long time horizons.
Just commenting in the likelihood of a full-EU ban being low. FWIW I don’t think it is currently more likely to happen than not, but I think you are underestimate the risk.
To block a regulation or legislation in the European Union under qualified majority voting rules, a “blocking minority” must be formed by at least four member states and represent more than 35% of the EU population.
Italy and Hungary have already banned cultivated meat. The Romanian Senate has also approved a ban (although I don’t think it has been implemented). France and Austria have also called for moratoriums or greater regulation, and these countries could plausibly tip over into a ban. These five countries alone would lead to a ban at the EU level. Or if some other countries abstain rather than voting in favour of cultivated meat, it becomes even easier for fewer than these five countries to secure a ban.
Those are great points, thanks, I think you are right. On the other hand, I think my argument was that if the “science is solved” and cultivated meat became cheaper and more environmentally friendly, I don’t see the current state of factory farming as a stable equilibrium situation: I don’t think it is reasonable to expect an indefinite protection of a more expensive, more polluting and less worker friendly economic sector in favour of another. Eg, a ban might be feasible, but it may not be sustainable in decade-long time horizons.