Food Standards Agency Scoping Group Meeting

The FSA is investigating reports that products from the offspring of cloned animals have entered the UK food chain and have begun to piece together the extent and nature of the problem. This has generated considerable media interest.

A meeting was held in London on Thursday 5th August with the following purpose in mind:

• Update attendees on the FSA investigation
• Obtain information from Food Business Operators and trade bodies about the possible use of clones and the offspring of clones within the food chain

Douglas Scott attended via video link from FSA offices in Aberdeen.

The “Scoping” meeting explained firstly the situation regards the beef from cattle produced from cloned embryos entering the food chain.

This concerned 8 embryos all of which and their offspring have been traced. The meat from bulls slaughtered in 2009 entered the food chain. These 2 bulls emanated from a farm near Nairn. One calf also entered the food chain even though it was only a few weeks old.

96 offspring were born on a farm near Nairn. 10 have subsequently died. The 86 remaining are primarily of interesting milk production but will eventually, if approved, enter the food chain.

This Scoping meeting wanted assurances that the FSA has investigated all avenues but FSA requested more info from the industry if such exists.

The current regulatory position is covered by the Novel Food Regulations 1997 that defines foods that the regulations include. The definition excludes all food obtained from traditional breeding practices. These are now accepted as those practices that were in place before 1997. The UK interpretation of novel is that it applies to all subsequent generations but there are different views across Europe. This interpretation was confirmed in 2007 when the Daily Mail asked the question.

EC has expressed a view that “novel” applies to clone plus first generation but not subsequent generations.

The UK's policy decision in 2007 was based on the EC's position at that time. No applications have ever been made to place 'novel' meats on the market.

Embryo splitting was deemed not to be novel since the practice existed pre 1997.

UK policy needs probably needs altered and it was said that this was the beginning of the dialogue.

The jurisdiction of the Novel Foods Regulations is just the EU and demands that 'whoever places the food on the market should seek approval'. But this is a legal framework that has never been tested and it is very unclear where “placing on market” takes place.

Traceability requirements in the supply chain are covered by EU regulations that govern 1) import procedure and 2) cattle movements. Neither require declaration of clone involvement.

Import of cloned embryos is not regulated. Apart from it being impossible to know or not whether embryos have been cloned, the only interest would be for public and animal health control reasons.

Import of ovas and semen are another potential introduction of cloned stock. Certification is only required for semen and again there is no requirement to declare cloning.

Health certificates that accompany the likes of South American beef or corned beef say nothing about cloning.

The cloning issue should be distanced from the GM debate since it is very different.

The Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers said that no retailers want to sell cloned beef. There is also worry over the continual drip feeding of cloning cases damaging confidence there was great concern over the ability to check traceability and retailers would need to rely on producers telling them.

Regulation whatever it may be could probably be unenforceable. If UK position was altered it would appear that would be towards offspring one generation down not being defined as novel.

Key Points were summarised
1. Real deficiency in traceability of embryo entering the UK.
2. More information is required on cattle passports.
3. DEFRA needs to give consideration to improving traceability to include Novel Food Regulations.
4. Traceability on imports needs addressed.
5. Need more information to farmers
6. the perception of consumers is more important than what the science is. Major consumer information process is required.
7. Whatever action UK takes must be consistent in EU and not disadvantage UK food industry.

UK industry needs to lobby Europe to align guidance to clone plus one generation.

Cloning in the rest of the world is widespread and excluding beef that has been cloned is impossible.