Animal Protection Groups Condemn FDA's Endorsement of Anim...(mbryo Transfer Society and theFederation...)

"Consumers have numerous reasons to want to avoid cloned foods, including concerns about animal welfare and the ethics of cloning," said Tracie Letterman, Executive Director of AAVS. "The FDA has admitted that it does not evaluate the moral, ethical, or religious concerns with animal cloning. To protect the interests of consumers and animals alike, these issues need to be factored into any decision, as they are in Europe, Canada, and elsewhere around the world."

Although the USDA is maintaining the voluntary moratorium on cloned animals, the public cannot be confident that they are not supporting cloning when the moratorium no longer covers the offspring of clones, is only voluntary, and is being managed by the cloning industry.

Farm Sanctuary and AAVS urge that a mandatory moratorium should be maintained until Health and Human Services sets up an advisory committee to openly and thoroughly deliberate the issues related to cloning that go beyond food safety, and beyond the FDA's analysis, including concerns about animal welfare and ethical implications. Food producers, processors, and marketers must also take responsibility and pledge not to use cloned animals or offspring in their products.

About Farm Sanctuary

Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have
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