| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2013) 892 final (18.12.13) |
| Publication Date | 18/12/2013 |
| Content Type | Policy-making |
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Cloning is a relatively new technique of asexual reproduction of animals producing near exact genetic copies of the animal cloned, i.e. without modification of genes. In food production cloning is a new technique. Hence, under the current legislative framework, food from clones falls under the scope of the Novel Food Regulation and is thus subject to pre-market approval based on a food safety risk assessment. In 2008 the Commission presented a proposal to streamline the approval process in the Novel Food Regulation. In the legislative procedure lawmakers aimed to amend the proposal to introduce specific rules on cloning. Yet no agreement was reached on the scope and features of these insertions so that the proposal was abandoned after a failed Conciliation in March 2011. As a result the Commission was asked to prepare a legislative proposal on cloning in food production based on an impact assessment outside the Novel Food Regulation. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) views cloning primarily as an animal welfare hazard related to the low efficiency of the technique. It up-dated its opinion on cloning of animals in 2012 concluding that scientific knowledge available on cloning has increased but that nevertheless its efficiency remains low compared to other reproduction techniques. The objective of this proposal is to ensure uniform conditions of production for farmers while protecting the health and welfare of animals. |
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| Source Link | http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2013:892:FIN |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
