Eurogroup for Animals is opposed to the cloning of animals and is campaigning to have the import and trade of food products from cloned animals banned within the European Union.

Why is it an issue?

1. The cloning process is inefficient, wastes animals' lives and causes them to suffer pain and distress at every stage of the process.

2. Cloning will further encourage people to see animals as things which can be used for anything. Animals are capable of feeling happiness and pain, and this should be taken into account.

3. The routine use of cloning will make it more difficult for livestock to fight diseases. If all animals within a flock have exactly the same weaknesses against a disease, they are at greater risk of being wiped out by the outbreak of a disease.

4. Consumers do not want food products from cloned animals, and should have the right to decide what ends up on their plate. Surveys in both Europe and the US show people do not support cloning as it causes suffering to animals and too little is known about the long-term health effects. Once cloning for food is approved, it is likely that shoppers will have no idea whether products they buy come from these animals.

The European Commission is currently considering whether to approve the practice after the Food and Drug Administration in America concluded in January 2008 that meat and milk products from cloned cows, pigs and goats and their offspring are safe to eat. This means at some stage companies will want to export products from cloned animals to the European Union, making it important that there is a common position on it.

Eurogroup has been advising EU institutions, highlighting that cloning is an incredibly wasteful method which causes animals to suffer. Only about five animals out of a 100 are born alive, and those who do live suffer more defects and die earlier than animals bred the normal way.

The European Group on Ethics (EGE) said in its final opinion published on 11 January 2008 that it "does not see convincing arguments to justify the production of food from clones and their offspring". To read its report, click here.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) outlined grave concerns over the impact of cloning on animal welfare in its final opinion published on 24 July. It also emphasised there are still too many uncertainties about the technology. To read the EFSA report click here. To read Eurogroup's submission and questions to EFSA, click here.

The European Parliamentary Intergroup on the welfare and conservation of animals also opposes cloning for food. These politicians with a strong interest in animal welfare drew up a motion for a resolution urging the European Commission to prohibit cloning of animals for food and any products from cloned animals and their offspring. The motion for a resolution was adopted by the agricultural committee and will be voted on in the European Parliament in the near future.

The European Commission is now considering what to do next while bearing in mind the conclusions from EGE and EFSA. To read their reaction to the EFSA opinion, click here. They will also take into account the results of the Eurobarometer survey on consumer attitudes on food products from cloned animals, which is expected to be published in the autumn.