Plaid MEP Jill Evans is calling for a ban on food produced from cloned animals being sold to the public. The need for a ban is all the more urgent since some experts are predicting these kinds of products could reach European markets by 2010.

Now MEPs want the European Commission to ban the cloning of animals for food supply, as well the import of cloned animals or their offspring to the EU in order to make sure they are kept out of the food chain. The European Parliament has voted in favour of a motion supporting a ban, which is backed by Ms Evans.

The Plaid MEP said:

"There is overwhelming political and public support for a ban on food from cloned animals. The European Commission must listen and it must act soon if we are keep meat from cloned animals out of the shops.

"The health and welfare problems of cloned animals as well as the higher mortality rate is well publicised and it would be foolish to ignore this. Although no such products are currently sold anywhere in the world, we've heard evidence that this may change as early as 2010.

"It's important too for our agricultural industry which could suffer unless the import of cloned animals and their offspring is banned. We need to think of the image of European agriculture and its reputation for quality and safety.

"We must protect our consumers and farmers and a ban on food from cloned animals is the only sure way of doing that."

Diwedd/Ends

NOTES

MEPs meeting in Brussels voted to in favour of a motion asking the European Commission to bring forward arrangements for a ban on the following: