USMEF Statement on Cloning

U.S. Meat Export Federation Statement on Cloning

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) supports the science-based approach that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken toward the issue of animal cloning.  Commercial cloning research is ongoing in Europe, Asia and Australia, and it is important for the U.S. agriculture industry to remain current in the development of techniques to ensure a safer food supply to feed a growing global population.  Cloning technology holds the potential for improvements in animal and public health while providing food products that meet consumers’ expectations for quality and nutrition.

The FDA’s rigorous seven-year review concluded that there is no material difference in the composition of food from cloned animals and that meat products from cloned animals and their offspring are safe for human consumption.  To ensure a smooth transition for these products to both the domestic and international markets, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has asked the industry to continue a voluntary moratorium on the sale of food products from cloned animals.  The international marketplace represents $4.68 billion in sales (2006 figure) for the U.S. beef and pork industries, and our relationships with key customers in the global market are critical to the vitality of the U.S. agricultural community.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation forecasts that in 2007 the U.S. will have exported an estimated 1.71 billion pounds of beef products and 2.88 billion pounds of pork products to foreign markets.  Exports of U.S. red meat in 2007 accounted for the utilization of more than 350 million bushels of U.S. grown corn and 52 million bushels of soybeans.

U.S. Meat Export Federation Statement on Cloning

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) supports the science-based approach that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken toward the issue of animal cloning.  Commercial cloning research is ongoing in Europe, Asia and Australia, and it is important for the U.S. agriculture industry to remain current in the development of techniques to ensure a safer food supply to feed a growing global population.  Cloning technology holds the potential for improvements in animal and public health while providing food products that meet consumers’ expectations for quality and nutrition.

The FDA’s rigorous seven-year review concluded that there is no material difference in the composition of food from cloned animals and that meat products from cloned animals and their offspring are safe for human consumption.  To ensure a smooth transition for these products to both the domestic and international markets, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has asked the industry to continue a voluntary moratorium on the sale of food products from cloned animals.  The international marketplace represents $4.68 billion in sales (2006 figure) for the U.S. beef and pork industries, and our relationships with key customers in the global market are critical to the vitality of the U.S. agricultural community.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation forecasts that in 2007 the U.S. will have exported an estimated 1.71 billion pounds of beef products and 2.88 billion pounds of pork products to foreign markets.  Exports of U.S. red meat in 2007 accounted for the utilization of more than 350 million bushels of U.S. grown corn and 52 million bushels of soybeans.