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Written question asked by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) on Tuesday, 27 October 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 29 October 2015. It was answered by Jane Ellison (Conservative) on Wednesday, 4 November 2015 on behalf of the Department of Health.


Animal Products: Clones

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the sale of meat and milk from cloned animals.

Answer

The sale in the European Union of meat and milk from cloned animals is subject to risk assessment under the EU Novel Foods Regulation. These Regulations are currently being revised and have been discussed at a European Council Working Group level, where the Food Standards Agency represents the United Kingdom. The European Parliament has now voted in favour of maintaining the risk assessment of products from cloned animals under the Novel Food Regulations, and the Council is expected to be asked for its formal view shortly.


The European Commission has put forward separate and more specific proposals on the cloning of farm animals and the food derived from them. The discussions on these proposals have yet to gain momentum.


There is currently no authorisation for any meat or milk from cloned animals to be in the UK food chain.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
13538
Session
2015-16
Subjects
Clones Animal products EU action
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk