Ethics group launches consultation on animal cloning for food supply
The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) has launched a public consultation on the ethical aspects of animal cloning for food supply. The consultation invites stakeholders to give their opinion on ethical concerns related to cloning feedstock. It also asks what should be done at EU level in this regard. At present in Europe cloning is not a commercial practice and there is no specific regulation on the authorisation of food products from cloned animals for human consumption in the EU. The goal of the EGE will be to advise the Commission on all ethical questions relating to these practices. Separately, in March 2007 the European Commission requested the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to advise on food safety, animal health, animal welfare and environment implications of live cloned animals, obtained through somatic cell nucleus transfer (SCNT) technique, their offspring and of the products obtained from those animals.