EU to debate cloning animals for food

EU regulators will discuss in a few months whether to allow meat and milk products from cloned animals into the food chain, officials said on Friday (Jan 30).

Many consumer and religious groups are against cloning, saying that scientists do not know its effects on nutrition and biology. However, advocates say the technology is safe and will help producer more milk and lean, tender meat by creating disease-resistant animals.

Scientists estimate the EU has 100 cattle clones and fewer pig clones. So far, Denmark is the only EU country to have adopted any cloning law.

The European Commission had earlier asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for more in-depth scientific advice on this subject. A ban, if not properly justified, could lead to problems for the EU at the World Trade Organisation, officials said. 

The problem is there are few available scientific data and samples. The EFSA is uncertain on cloning, though it said in June that cloned animal products might not be safe and required further study.

EU experts were in close contact with authorities in Canada, Japan and the US, the main three countries so far involved in cloning and examining the technology. Japan and the US have both deemed the technology and food produced from cloned animals as safe.

The EU Commission will likely hold the debate on cloning within three months, said officials.

In October, a survey revealed that most EU citizens had reservations about cloning animals for food, while 67 percent saw cloning as justified if used to preserve endangered animals.