CVM issues statement on livestock cloning
Washington - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is asking companies involved in animal cloning to not introduce these animals, progeny or food products into the human or animal food supply.
Washington - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is askingcompanies involved in animal cloning to not introduce these animals, progenyor food products into the human or animal food supply.
FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine says it is taking a very activeinterest and role in evaluating animal cloning. In a statement, CVM saysits first priority is to examine the safety of food products (e.g., meat,milk, eggs) from animals developed through somatic cell cloning but areotherwise unmodified.
CVM is considering the safety of animals and their progeny that are producedas a result of somatic cell nuclear transfer (also known as somatic cellclones or NT clones.) "Dolly the Sheep" is the most famous animalproduced in this manner, but the technology also has been applied to rodents,cattle, swine and other species.
Last fall the agency contracted with the National Academy of Sciences(NAS) to conduct an independent, scientific peer review of available safetydata on cloned animals and the food derived from them.
CVM is also looking for companies involved in animal cloning to be preparedto supply scientific information they have collected on the safety of clonedanimals.
