“We applaud Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Connor for his common sense decision to continue the moratorium on milk from cloned animals while USDA and other government agencies review the implications that the approval of this niche technology would have on trade and public health,” says Tipton. Numerous surveys have shown that the majority of American consumers are not comfortable buying milk from cloned cows. More time is needed for the American public to gain a better understanding of this technology.
Exports are also problematic. Just as many European countries ban genetically modified food, many countries are not yet comfortable importing food products from cloned animals. Therefore, delaying production until major foreign trading partners have reviewed and approved the technology makes sense.