No appetite in cloning animals for food
Posted, September 03, 2008 @ 15:00
MEPs call for a ban
Brussels, 3rd September 2008 -- Cloning animals for food should be banned until we are certain the techniques are safe, Neil Parish MEP, Conservative chairman of the European Parliament's agriculture committee, said today after MEPs backed his resolution calling for an EU ban and an embargo on imports of cloned animals.
Current animal cloning technology is considered primitive and many clones die in the early stages of life. A report from the European Group on Ethics (EGE) states that 20% of cloned calves die in the first 24 hours of birth and a further 15% before weaning. Those that survive the early stages are likely to suffer in later in life through high mortality rates, ill health and susceptibility to multiple organ failure. Cloned foetuses are also often 25% heavier than normal which causes severe problems for surrogate mothers when giving birth.
Widespread cloning could also lead to a closer gene pool which would increase the chances of a multiple disease outbreak. Genetic variety defends against disease and without it animals are at a much greater risk from new diseases.
Mr Parish said:
"Cloning is naturally an emotive issue, and we must follow the science; however the science is still far too underdeveloped. Until we can conclusively say cloned animals are safe to enter the food chain, and that cloning will not cause unnecessary animal suffering, we must not press ahead with the technology."
"When we are talking about an issue that affects both human health and animal welfare, surely it is better to be safe than sorry."