Animal welfare groups have welcomed calls by the European Parliament for an
EU-wide ban on meat and dairy products from cloned animals.
European MPs raised concerns over the health and welfare of cloned animals
and the impact it would have on the image of high quality farming in Europe.

A resolution supported by 622 MEPs urged a ban on cloning animals for food
or farming or putting meat or dairy products from cloned livestock or their
offspring on the market.

The resolution also demanded an embargo on importing cloned livestock, their
offspring, semen or embryos and meat and dairy products from them.

Currently, no products from cloned animals are sold in Europe or the rest of
the world, but it is expected they could reach the market by 2010.

The Parliament's Agriculture Committee Chairman, the UK's Neil Parish said
the process involved 'serious health and welfare problems' for clones,
including high levels of ill-health and early mortality.

The MEPs said cloning could also reduce the genetic diversity of herds,
making them more susceptible to disease.

The move was welcomed by animal welfare groups who warned that cloning
inflicted 'untold suffering' on livestock.

The RSPCA's senior scientist Dr Nikki Osborne said: 'This is excellent
news - the RSPCA has been calling for a ban on cloning for food production
for several years.

'Cloning causes untold suffering to the animals in the process, and is
purely for commercial benefit.

'The RSPCA believes that the cost in terms of animal welfare in no way
justifies any perceived benefits of cloning.

'Given public concern about food safety and animal welfare, we are at a loss
as to why it's ever been considered.'

Joyce D'Silva of Compassion in World Farming said: 'We know from published
research that around 50 per cent of cloned farm animals die either shortly
before birth or within a few days or weeks afterwards.

'Many are born with malformed lungs, kidneys or other essential organs.

'The truth is that for every so-called 'successful' clone, there has been
another who is unable to grow even to puberty and who is likely to have
endured misery during its short life.

'We also know that cloning technology is likely to be used in conjunction
with genetic modification, to replicate GM farm animals.

'It will also be used to clone the most productive, fast-growing animals,
where the most money can be made. This tends to also be where the most
animal welfare problems exist.'

The debate over these kind of products was reignited in January when US
regulators said cloned meat and milk were as safe as food from
conventionally-bred animals.

A report from the European Food Safety Authority in July said there was no
indication that cloned animals would pose food safety or environmental risks
compared to conventional meat and dairy products.

But it warned there were potential adverse health effects which could cause
problems for the clones, including developmental abnormalities.

Yesterday the EU Commissioner for health and food safety, Androula
Vassiliou, said the Commission was aware there were still health problems
for cloned animals and was considering whether restrictions should be
imposed.

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