Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Executive Vice President for Food and Agriculture Sharon Bomer Lauritsen issued the following statement on the newly launched tracking program for animal clones:

“Today, the leading animal cloning companies introduced an animal clone registry program that will track livestock produced through cloning. With this new registry program in place, BIO encourages a timely release by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the final risk assessment on the safety of foods from animal cloning. Our industry believes the tracking program will help to identify animal clones and address market concerns when the voluntary moratorium on the use of cloning for commercial food production is lifted.”

“The biotechnology industry has a long history of promoting stewardship and responsible use of its technology. The animal clone registry program demonstrates the technology providers’ commitment to facilitating future market needs. While companies have thus far voluntarily taken steps to keep animal clones and their offspring from entering the marketplace, BIO believes that when cloning technology is available for commercial food production, this tracking system will help promote a wider variety of choices in the world’s food supply and support smooth trade transactions in the agricultural community.”

“BIO applauds its members, leading cloning companies and program developers ViaGen and Trans Ova, for their efforts and believes this system of animal food product management will provide farmers and ranchers with access to the full range of assisted reproductive technologies, while still meeting food retailer demands.”

“Livestock cloning is the newest assisted reproductive technology that allows farmers and ranchers to use the best genetics to produce healthy animals, and therefore provide consumers with consistent, healthful and safe food products. Using the tools of biotechnology to produce desirable and healthier farm animals is not a new practice. For decades, livestock producers have used genomics to improve the health and efficiency of animals that provide healthy and nutritious meat and milk. In December 2006, FDA published a draft risk assessment that determined the milk and meat products from animal clones and their offspring are as safe as products from conventionally-bred animals.”

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.

Biotechnology Industry Organization