June 13, 2002
CVM TO COSPONSOR PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM ON LIVESTOCK CLONING
FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology are cosponsoring a symposium entitled "Animal Cloning and the Production of Food Products -- Perspectives from the Food Chain." The symposium, to be held on September 26, 2002, will follow a two-day symposium being held by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology entitled "Biotech in the Barnyard: Implications of Genetically Engineered Animals." Both symposia will be held at the Adolphus Hotel, 1321 Commerce Street, Dallas, Texas.
The goal of the animal cloning symposium is to provide a forum for an exchange of perspectives among the various stakeholders in animal cloning, including both brief presentations and moderated question and answer sessions. Perspectives will be shared from companies that make and sell clones, animal producers, processors, retailers, and consumers of foods derived from clones. Only cloning intended to copy animals that are not genetically engineered will be considered at the symposium, as genetic engineering in animals is the subject of the preceding two-day meeting.
The Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology was established to promote greater understanding of the debate on genetically modified food and other products of agricultural biotechnology, and to support development of a regulatory system for the products that protects the public health and environment and enjoys consumer confidence. The mission of the Pew Initiative is to serve as an objective, credible source of information, focusing on engaging policy makers, the media, and the public.
CVM is considering the safety of animals and their progeny that are produced as a result of somatic cell nuclear transfer (also known as somatic cell clones or NT clones.) In evaluating animal cloning, CVM's first, but not only, priority is to examine the safety of food products (e.g., meat, milk, eggs) from animals developed through somatic cell cloning but are otherwise unmodified. CVM is determining how these animals should be regulated, including whether there may be circumstances in which CVM ordinarily would not need to exert its authority.
Registration for both meetings is free. Advance registration for the symposium is required, however, as space will be limited. There will be no onsite registration permitted. Information about registering for the symposium and hotel accommodations may be found on the Pew Initiative Home Page.
Questions about FDA participation in the animal cloning symposium may be directed to John Matheson, FDA/CVM, 7500 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855, telephone, 301-827-6647, or e-mail clones@cvm.fda.gov.
Issued by:
FDA, Center for Veterinary Medicine,
Communications Staff, HFV-12
7519 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855
Telephone: (240) 276-9300 FAX: (240) 276-9115
Internet Web Site: http://www.fda.gov/cvm
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