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News Release
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For Immediate Release:
January 11, 2008
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Contact:
Deb Carstoiu - 202.962.6660
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BIO Supports EFSA Scientific Opinion of Animal Cloning
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Friday, January 11, 2008) - Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Greenwood today issued the following statement in response to a draft scientific opinion published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) regarding the safety of milk and meat products from animal clones and their offspring:
“BIO supports the EFSA’s draft scientific opinion which concludes that meat and milk products from clones of cattle and pigs and their offspring are safe for human consumption, and are no different from foods from livestock produced through conventional breeding. EFSA’s findings are consistent with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) draft risk assessment on animal cloning, as well as numerous studies world wide.
“Livestock cloning is a new assisted reproductive technology which can help livestock producers deliver high-quality, safe, abundant, and nutritious foods in a consistent manner. The biotechnology industry applauds EFSA for its timely and comprehensive scientific review of this new technology. The draft conclusions support the strong scientific consensus worldwide on the safety of livestock cloning.”
“With EFSA’s draft opinion reaffirming the safety of meat and milk products from animal clones and their offspring, BIO strongly 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.”
BIO represents more than 1,150 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology technologies. BIO also produces the annual BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.
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