The European Parliament's environment and agriculture committee has voted in favor of ban on cloning of farm animals, as well as food products from both clones and their offspring in the EU.
This comes in view of potential health risks for humans as a result of consumption of products derived from cloned animals.
Currently, food from clones needs a pre-market approval based on a scientific food safety assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) before it can be supplied to the market for sale in the continent.
Cloning could also result in deterioration in animals' health, according to EFSA.
The import of cloned animals, their offspring and any resulting products from countries outside the EU where cloning for food is allowed could be tracked by mandatory traceability.
European Parliament Member Giulia Moi said: "We didn't fall back on compromises such as the marketing and the opportunity to introduce products derived from cloned animals and their descendants in the member states.
"Also, we have excluded the possibility that cloning of animals could become a common practice within the borders of the EU."
The proposal will be put into force after receiving approval from both the Parliament and the Council.
However, cloning practice will continue for other purposes, such as research, the conservation of rare breeds and endangered species or the use of animals for the production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
Image: Consumption of products derived from cloned animals will have potential health risks on humans. Photo: courtesy of Mister GC / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
