The debate about the appropriateness of cloned animals for food purposes began a few years ago when cloned embryos were imported into the EU. According to current EU regulations, food produced from clones is considered novel food since it is not produced via traditional breeding techniques and, therefore, falls under the scope of the Regulation on Novel Foods, which is now under discussion at EU level.
The report is a response to calls from European Parliament and
The report acknowledges the challenges posed by animal welfare issues and takes into consideration the ethical aspect of cloning. It also notes there is no scientific evidence confirming food safety concerns regarding foods obtained from cloned animals and their offspring.
The EC is calling for further study on the issues and a review after five years. The proposal will not suspend cloning for uses other than food, such as research, conservation of endangered species or the production of pharmaceuticals.
