Animal cloning
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What is animal cloning?
Animal cloning is a form of animal reproduction that does not require the union of a sperm and an egg.The most common animal cloning technique is referred to as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) where the nucleus of an immature egg cell is replaced with that of a cell from a body part (somatic cell) such as an ear, leg, nose, etc.
Once nuclear replacement has been completed, the reconstructed embryo is artificially activated and the developing embryo transferred to a surrogate mother, where the foetus develops. In essence, the nuclear DNA of a cell that has been performing as part of an ear, leg or nose etc., is artificially reprogrammed to be able to develop into a complete animal.
Why are animals cloned?
Conventional breeding and assisted reproduction has been used for some time to improve the value of domestic animals for the benefit of mankind. Such improvements are evident in current food production with high yielding milk cows, as well as more efficient meat producing cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry.
However, conventional breeding is relatively time consuming and limited in that desirable traits can be difficult to transfer between related breeds or be diminished or diluted out in subsequent generations. Cloning however, allows for the reproduction of genetically identical animals that have all the genetic characteristics of the parent.
What animals have been cloned?
The first cloned animal was a sheep called Dolly, born in 1997 at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland. Since then other animals to be cloned include cattle, deer, pigs, goats, cats and dogs.
Can food from cloned animals be distinguished from that of others?
At present there are no specific tests that can reliably distinguish between food from cloned animals and food from their non-cloned counterparts. However, genetic testing, similar to that used in GMO testing, may be adapted to identify genetically identical individuals.
Is food from cloned animals or their offspring available in Ireland?
Food from cloned animals or their offspring is not on sale in Ireland, or anywhere in the EU at present. The prohibitive cost of producing cloned animals means that only the offspring of cloned animals will be used in food production and which may appear on certain markets within a short number of years.
Is food from cloned animals safe?
The scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is that food from cloned animals or their offspring does not constitute a health risk.
What are the ethical aspects of animal cloning for food supply?
The European Group on Ethics (EGE) has issued an opinion on the ethics of using cloned animals for food production. At present, the EGE does not see convincing arguments to justify the production of food from clones and their offspring. If in the future food products derived from cloned animals were to be introduced to the European market, the EGE recommends that a number of requirements are met in relation to food safety, animal health and welfare and traceability. See the full EGE opinion.
How is food from cloned animals regulated in the EU?
While not governed by specific legislation yet, food from cloned animals would likely fall under the novel food Regulation (EC No. 258/97) whereby the process of cloning itself could be considered novel. Whether food from the offspring of cloned animals would be considered novel or not is still under debate.
What is the situation in other countries?
Research into animal cloning has been ongoing for a number of years in almost 40 countries including the USA, China, Japan and Argentina. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA expressed a favourable opinion on January 15th 2008, regarding the use of cloned animals for food production. New Zealand and Australia have also indicated that they have no safety concerns with food from cloned animals or their offspring.
How does cloning differ from genetic modification (GM)?
Animal cloning involves the replication of one animal to produce a genetic replica, and may be useful in propagating particular desirable characteristics or to reproduce rare animals that are difficult to breed. Genetic modification of animals relates to the manipulation of the animal’s genetic material (DNA) in order to create or enhance a particular desirable trait in the offspring. Existing characteristics of an animal can be improved or new features introduced by manipulating the animals own DNA or by adding genes from another organism.
Last reviewed: 24/3/2011
Source: Food Safety Authority of Ireland
Dolly, The Sheep
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Lamb 6LL3 - Dolly - had been born in July 1996. Press and television tried to work out what she meant for humanity. Could humans now be cloned? Should they be? British genetic engineer Ian Wilmut, who led the Dolly team, didn't think so. He wanted to produce sheep that delivered medicines in their milk. If he could make one sheep to do this, cloning might turn it into a flock.
Animals had been cloned before, but all from cells at an early stage of development. As an embryo grows, its cells become specialized. Some of them form nerves, some form muscles, and so on. The genes not needed in any particular type of cell are "turned off". It is this that allows many different types of cell to be created from just one set of genes. So although every adult cell contains every gene, none has all its genes available in working form.
In 1995, another scientist at the Roslin Institute, Keith Campbell, had found a way to turn back the clock and make an adult cell behave like an early embyronic cell.
He kept adult cells alive in culture dishes using a medium that contained very little "growth factor" - in effect putting them on a starvation diet. This starvation turned the genes that had been turned off during development back on again. A cell treated in this way, because it had a full set of genes available for work, could, when fused with an egg that had its nucleus removed, form the starting point for a new animal.
Wilmut and his colleagues took an egg from a sheep and sucked out its genetic material with a tiny tube. Then they inserted a "starved" cell from the udder of a different sheep. A tiny electric shock started the egg dividing to produce an embryo. They implanted this in the womb of another sheep. They had to do this 277 times to get just one Dolly - the others all died at some stage.
When Dolly was born, she didn't look like the sheep that had carried her, or even like the sheep that had provided the egg. She looked exactly like the sheep that had provided the udder cell. Shaped by the genes from that cell, Dolly was that sheep's clone - a world first. A little ahead of schedule, Dolly was front-page news. Source
She became the most famous sheep ever to walk the planet and the planet loved her and hated her in equal measure. After six years at the top Dolly succumbed to illness and died. It was a sad end but a not unfamiliar story of the new celebrity age.
Animals had been cloned before, but all from cells at an early stage of development. As an embryo grows, its cells become specialized. Some of them form nerves, some form muscles, and so on. The genes not needed in any particular type of cell are "turned off". It is this that allows many different types of cell to be created from just one set of genes. So although every adult cell contains every gene, none has all its genes available in working form.
In 1995, another scientist at the Roslin Institute, Keith Campbell, had found a way to turn back the clock and make an adult cell behave like an early embyronic cell.
He kept adult cells alive in culture dishes using a medium that contained very little "growth factor" - in effect putting them on a starvation diet. This starvation turned the genes that had been turned off during development back on again. A cell treated in this way, because it had a full set of genes available for work, could, when fused with an egg that had its nucleus removed, form the starting point for a new animal.
Wilmut and his colleagues took an egg from a sheep and sucked out its genetic material with a tiny tube. Then they inserted a "starved" cell from the udder of a different sheep. A tiny electric shock started the egg dividing to produce an embryo. They implanted this in the womb of another sheep. They had to do this 277 times to get just one Dolly - the others all died at some stage.
When Dolly was born, she didn't look like the sheep that had carried her, or even like the sheep that had provided the egg. She looked exactly like the sheep that had provided the udder cell. Shaped by the genes from that cell, Dolly was that sheep's clone - a world first. A little ahead of schedule, Dolly was front-page news. Source
She became the most famous sheep ever to walk the planet and the planet loved her and hated her in equal measure. After six years at the top Dolly succumbed to illness and died. It was a sad end but a not unfamiliar story of the new celebrity age.
Animal cloning for food in the European Union
ABOUT THE ISSUE
Cloning is a technique of artificial reproduction to create identical animals. Animal cloning involves stressful handling of the animals used as mother. The process is inefficient, with very low rates of success: 10% in cattle, 6% in pigs. Animals are submitted to painful handling and suffer numerous health problems. In addition, farm animals are seen more as commodities rather than sentient beings.
EU consumers and citizens are against this technique to produce food.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION
In the EU food from animal clones must be authorised before being sold, but no other rule exists. The European Parliament has expressed its support to ban animal cloning for food and the import and sale of food products from clones and descendants. The European Food Safety Authority highlighted the huge animal welfare and health concerns. The European Group of Ethics has stated ethical ones. The European Commission, however, fears possible problems with trade partners.
Source: Eurogroup for Animals
19 October 2010 - Commission favours temporary suspension of
animal cloning for food production in the EU
The European Commission has today announced that it will propose a temporary suspension of animal cloning for food production in the EU. The Commission also plans to suspend temporarily the use of cloned farm animals and the marketing of food from clones. All temporary measures will be reviewed after five years. The establishment of a traceability system for imports of reproductive materials for clones, such as semen and embryos of clones is also envisaged. The system will allow farmers and industry to set up database with the animals that would emerge from these reproductive materials.
Commissioner in charge of Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli, said: "The Communication adopted today is a response to calls from the European Parliament and Member States to launch a specific EU policy on this sensitive issue. I believe that the temporary suspension constitutes a realistic and feasible solution to respond to the present welfare concerns ". The commissioner underlined that the proposal will not suspend cloning for uses other than food, such as research, conservation of endangered species or use of animals for the production of pharmaceuticals. In conclusion, he expressed the hope that "with the adoption of this report, the Council, the Parliament and the Commission will move forward on the proposal on Novel Foods which is an important contribution to consumer protection and innovation".
The way forward
In the Commission's view, a selective mixture of measures, accompanied by a review clause after five years, is the best way forward to address the issue. These measures will sufficiently address animal welfare concerns without introducing unnecessary and unjustifiable restrictions.
The Commission's assessment
The communication presents an assessment of cloning technology in relation to food production and examines the relevant aspects of cloning in light of the existing legislative framework. It acknowledges the challenges posed by animal welfare issues and takes into consideration the ethical facet of cloning. It also notes that there is no scientific evidence confirming food safety concerns regarding foods obtained from cloned animals or their offspring.
The communication examines cloning both in the Member States and in third countries. In the EU, the imports, trade and use of products from clones are currently covered by general EU legislation. Denmark is the only Member State that has imposed a national ban on the use of animal cloning for commercial purposes, while some third countries are already using cloning to produce breeding animals.
The Commission consulted stakeholders, asked EFSA to update scientific issues and took into account the opinion of the European Group of Ethics.
Background
Cloning is the creation of an organism that is a genetic copy of another. This means the two organisms share exactly the same DNA.
The debate about cloning for food purposes started a few years ago when cloned embryos were imported into the EU. According to the current EU Regulation,only food produced from clones is considered "novel food" as it is not produced via traditional breeding techniques. Therefore, such food falls under the scope of the Regulation on Novel foods, which is now under discussion at EU level. Novel foods are foods and food ingredients that have not been significantly used for human consumption within the EU before 15 May 1997.
In September 2008, in a resolution it adopted, the European Parliament supported a total ban of cloning. In 2009, in order to have a broader view of the issue, the Council asked the Commission to present a report. At his EP's hearing earlier this year, Commissioner Dalli promised that the report would be delivered by the end of 2010.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1211902019540.htm
14 May 2012 - Commission must ban
animal cloning for food production in the EU
Eurogroup for Animals called on the European Commission to ban the cloning animals for food production during a Working Group organised by DG Consumer to help prepare its impact assessment on Cloning which also follows the opening of a public consultation on the subject.
A ban is the only option and clearly represents the views of Europe’s citizens who do not want Frankenstein foods on their plates. Eurogroup also demands that the European Commission comes forward with clear legislation to enforce such a ban and ensure that no products from cloned animals or their offspring are put on the European market.
The European Parliament rejected any compromise on the Novel Foods Directive last year, as it would haveallowed for cloned animals to be used in food production, and the inherent animal welfare problems associated with it would not be recognised or seen as important. The Commission must recognise this and act accordingly.
“Cloning is an inefficient process that wastes animals’ lives and causes animal suffering and distress at all stages of the process and must be stopped,” said Sonja Van Tichelen, Director of Eurogroup for Animals.
“Farm animals are already seen by some as commodities rather than sentient beings and cloning compounds this view resulting in less concern for animal welfare and less willingness to address welfare issues. The cloning of animals for use in food is completely unethical and unnecessary. We are convinced that banning these products from our markets is possible and in line with international trade rules. We know that despite repeated claims that it is impossible to trace these animals in the supply chain it is possible. However the European Commission is lacking the will and the courage to defend our consumers, to protect animals and to find a real solution,” she added.
Eurogroup is concerned that the routine use of cloning would greatly reduce genetic diversity within livestock populations, increasing the chances of whole herds being wiped out by disease to which they would all be equally susceptible. In addition the European Commission and the Member States currently provide subsidies to farmers who conserve traditional breeds of livestock through rural development funding. Promoting cloning of farm animals would go against this rural development objective of conserving genetic diversity in farm animals.
The development of animal cloning as a method of food production is being pursued without public awareness and in spite of well-documented public concerns relating to the use of biotechnology in food production (e.g. GM foods). This is unacceptable.
“Eurogroup for Animals believes that the EU should introduce an immediate ban on the cloning of animals for food production, and on the sale of imported food products from cloned animals and their offspring and calls on the European Commission to act immediately and robustly to reflect the concern of the European Parliament and indeed Europe’s citizens,”concluded Van Tichelen.
Source: Eurogroup for Animals
Public consultation on animal cloning for food production in the EU
On 3 May, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the cloning of animals for food production. The consultation will run until 3 September and will feed into a Commission impact assessment prior to publishing their proposal on cloning expected early 2013.
Details
Title: Measures on animal cloning for food production in the EU
Policy : Food safety, consumer information, animal health, animal welfare
Consultation period: 03 May - 03 September 2012
Target groups
- Animal breeders and farmers;
- Food industry, the retail and distribution sector;
- Cloning companies and public organisations;
- Non-governmental organisations;
- Public authorities and trade partners;
- Citizens.
- Collect views on the acceptance of the technique and the introduction of EU measures on animal cloning for food production, their economic, social and environmental impacts in the EU and non-EU countries .
- This initiative only concerns cloning for food production. It does not cover the use of the cloning technique for other purposes e.g. research, production of pharmaceuticals or the conservation of endangered species or breeds.
- The collected information will be used as part of an impact assessment.
- The Commission has begun the impact assessment in order to propose legislation for adoption in 2013.
Submitting your contribution
- Before organisations answer
Organisations must register in the Joint Transparency Register and accept its Code of conduct. If your organisation is not registered, we shall publish your submission separately from that of registered organisations.
Contact: sanco-animal-cloning-consultation@ec.europa.eu
European Commission
Directorate General Health and Consumers
Unit E6 Innovation and sustainability
B-1049 - Belgium
Personal data
Context
- The Commission's impact assessment will examine a comprehensive set of possible measures on animal cloning for food production so that it can propose legislation for adoption in 2013.
- It will take into account the social, environmental and economic impact including the impacts on farmers, industry, trade, etc.
- The initiative only concerns cloning for food production, not the use of the cloning technique for other purposes e.g. research, production of pharmaceuticals, conservation of endangered species or breeds.
- Since 1997, food from cloned animals requires authorisation before being placed on the EU market (Novel Food Regulation) . Authorisation does not apply to foods from the offspring of cloned animals which does not differ from conventional food as regards food safety.
- Current rules on animal health and welfare apply to cloned animals too and the imports of their reproductive materials e.g. semen, embryos, ova.
- The Commission has proposed the following measures on animal cloning for food production in its report of 2010:
- Suspend temporarily the use of the cloning technique in the EU for the reproduction of all food-producing animals; the use of clones of these animals; import of clones and marketing of food from clones.
- Establish traceability of imports of semen and embryos allowing farmers and industry to set up data banks of offspring in the EU.
- The impact assessment will also examine measures on pre-market approval, traceability and labelling of food from offspring and their descendants.
Please take action - sign the petition!
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By signing our petition using the widget > > > > > > > > > > the message that you can read below, will instantly be send to Mr John Dalli, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy. |
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The petition letter
Commission must ban animal cloning for food production in the EU
Dear EU-Commissioner,
I have signed this petition because I am very concerned about animal cloning for food production in the European Union.
In the EU food from animal clones must be authorised before being sold, but no other rule exists. The European Parliament has expressed its support to ban animal cloning for food and the import and sale of food products from clones and descendants. The European Food Safety Authority highlighted the huge animal welfare and health concerns. The European Group of Ethics has stated ethical ones. The European Commission, however, fears possible problems with trade partners.
Animal cloning involves stressful handling of the animals used as mother. The process is inefficient, with very low rates of success: 10% in cattle, 6% in pigs. Animals are submitted to painful handling and suffer numerous health problems. In addition, farm animals are already seen by some as commodities rather than sentient beings and cloning compounds this view resulting in less concern for animal welfare and less willingness to address welfare issues.
The cloning of animals for use in food is completely unethical and unnecessary.
Like most EU consumers and citizens, I am against this technique to produce food and I urge you to ban the cloning of animals for food production which is the only option and clearly represents the views of Europe’s citizens who do not want Frankenstein foods on their plates.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
"It is the Commission's intention to come up with a specific
regulation & legislative proposal on cloning".
said John Dalli, European Commissioner for Health & Consumer Policy, when he met with Rose O'Donovan - editor of AGRA FACTS & AGRA FOCUS - to discuss Animal Cloning (published July 4, 2012)
