January 21, 2008

EU panel questions ethical rationale of cloned meat

EU ethics panel voiced its concern on ethical justification for cloning animals for food as it ponders over cloned meat safety.
 

The US Food and Drug Administration has declared cloned products to be safe but the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies said it doubts whether cloning animals for food is ethically justified.

Last week, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), whose 15 members are selected by the EU, published a draft opinion on "the implications of animal cloning on food safety" at the request of the EU's European Commission.

The EFSA said it is very unlikely that food products from cloned animals and conventionally bred animals will present any difference in terms of food safety.

However, the panel's draft opinion will not be finalised until May.

The European Commission and the EU are also set to reach a final decision on whether or not to approve consumption of meat and dairy products from cloned animals.

So far no country is marketing food from cloned animals.