FDA APPROVAL OF FOOD FROM CLONED ANIMALS STALLED BY PASSAGE OF MIKULSKI-SPECTER AMENDMENT IN FARM BILL!

(December 14, 2007) A broad coalition of consumer, farmer, and animal welfare organizations today applauded passage of a provision in the Senate’s Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) that would delay the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) endorsement of the use of food from cloned animals. This amendment, advanced by Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) and co-sponsored by Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), calls for a rigorous and careful review of the human health and economic impacts of bringing cloned food into America’s food supply. The senate overwhelmingly passed the bill this afternoon by a vote of 79 to 14.

The amendment requires that two rigorous studies be performed before the FDA is able to issue a final decision on food from clones. The amendment directs the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to convene a blue-ribbon panel of leading scientists to review the FDA’s initial decision that food from cloned animals is safe, and to study the potential health impacts of cloned foods entering the nation’s food supply. The bill also directs the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to examine consumer acceptance of cloned foods.

During a public comment period that ended earlier this year, the FDA heard from more than 150,000 citizens rejecting the Agency’s proposed plan to introduce clones into the U.S. food supply. In addition, dozens of members of the meat and dairy industries and nonprofit organizations urged the FDA to consider comments from the widest possible sample of Americans in consideration of the untested nature of cloning technology.

We applaud the Senate's passage of this amendment, and hope the House will follow its lead!

CFS True Food Network members like you sent thousands of letters urging the passage of this important provision in the Farm Bill. Thank you for your support! We will keep you informed as the legislation moves forward - stay tuned!

To read more about the amendment, visit our website: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/cloning_FBamendPR12_14_07.cfm

For a safe and sustainable food future,
The Center for Food Safety

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