A discussion on how to regulate the production and sale of food from cloned animals concluded in a deadlock Thursday morning among various European Union (EU) governmental bodies. In one corner of the ring stood the European Parliament, arguing for a full EU ban on the sale of food derived from cloned animals and their offspring. The opponent, the European Commission, however, countered that such a ban would be impractical and would disrupt global trade since products obtained from cloned animals are indistinguishable from those produced traditionally.
It’s evident that the European Commission is, in this instance, fighting on behalf of sound science while the European Parliament is pandering to the European public’s long-held and baseless fear of animal cloning and genetically modified foods. Indeed, EU lawmakers Gianni Pittella and Kartika Liotard even accused the European Commission of intransigence, saying that it is “incredible that the Council is willing to turn a blind eye to public opinion, as well as the ethical and animal welfare problems associated with cloning.”
Upon reading this statement, ACSH's Dr. Gilbert Ross had a few questions. “If one is opposed to eating meat, fine, say so. But how can anyone use ‘ethics’ or ‘animal welfare’ against cloned-progeny meat alone?”
ACSH’s Dr. Elizabeth Whelan is bewildered by the concerns over food coming from an animal with a cloned parent. “If you look at an animal, how do you know it’s cloned? The answer is you don’t, since they’re indistinguishable, so why is there a problem?”
Clearly, negative public opinion is the real bone of contention in this fight since it is a total smokescreen to claim that cloned animal progeny pose any public health threat or danger to animal welfare. “What’s worse is that the EU will use these bogus excuses as a trade barrier against such food imported from other countries, particularly the U.S., which is the most advanced nation in terms of animal cloning for food production,” adds Dr. Ross.