Sub Groups

REPORT ON ANIMALS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE 11:30hrs 3 September 2002

NEED TO START THINKING NOW ABOUT GM AND CLONED ANIMALS

Commission calls for new strategic advisory body

There is an urgent need to prepare the ground rules for the possible arrival of genetically modified and cloned animals according to a report out today (Tuesday).  In its report “Animals and Biotechnology” the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC) says it is vital that we consider the issues involved now.

The Commission’s chairman, Professor Malcolm Grant, said, “At the moment GM and cloned animals in conventional agriculture are some way off.  Government must use this period to avoid the problems we had when the public suddenly became aware of the issues around genetically modified crops and GM food on the shelves of supermarkets.  There has to be an informed public debate and adequate regulatory structures in place before the possible arrival of the first genetically modified animals on our farms or ready to be released into the environment.“

He continued, "All developments in livestock farming need to be justifiable.  They need to have a clear purpose and be seen in the context of society’s wider relationship with animals, whether they involve traditional or new techniques.  GM and cloned animals should be part of the same regulatory system as other animals wherever possible.  We think, however, that because of public concerns, there should be a strong focus on the use of GM and cloning." 

The report looks at the whole range of possibilities for genetically modified animals. These include GM sheep producing medicine in their milk, goats modified to produce spider silk to be used in the production of extra strong military body armour and salmon designed to grow several times as fast as conventional fish. 

The report notes that there is a broad range of views about GM and cloning.  There seems to be little outright rejection of applying GM and cloning to animals, but people are worried about the speed of developments, the possibility of mistakes and some of the changes that could be made to animals.  People want to understand the purposes and justification for applying biotechnology.  Mistrust of official institutions affects people's attitudes. 

The Commission calls for a new advisory body to take a strategic look at the implications of applying GM and cloning to farm animals, in the context of applying GM and cloning to other kinds of animals, current and future developments in livestock farming, and consumer attitudes.  It also calls for more effective engagement with the public on which applications of GM, cloning or conventional technology are acceptable.

The Commission found that the existing law relating to farm animals meets most concerns about the welfare of GM farm animals and any risks to human health or the environment.  But it found that the law as it stands would not necessarily protect animals from some potential fundamentally objectionable changes to their natures.  This potential loophole should be closed.  The Commission also found that existing legislation on animal welfare - the central plank of which dates back to 1911 - needs to be updated and consolidated. 

The report recommends:

• A new strategic advisory body to consider the development of GM animals – particularly farm animals
  
  
• A review of the relevant animal welfare legislation on animals and new regulations in a number of areas
  
  
• Independent scrutiny of how effectively existing farm animal welfare legislation is interpreted and enforced
  
  
• A system for monitoring the progress of GM and cloned animals to look for unexpected health or welfare problems
  
  
• No commercial development of GM fish in offshore fish farms while there remain significant uncertainties about the environmental impact of GM fish in the wild and keeping them contained in the fish farms
  
  
• Monitoring the international movement of GM and cloned animals and reproductive material
  
  

NOTE FOR EDITORS:

1. The AEBC was set up in July 2000 to provide Government with independent strategic advice on developments in biotechnology and their implications for agriculture and the environment. It reports to Ministers in the UK Government and in the devolved administrations.  Its first report “Crops on Trial” on the farm-scale evaluations (FSEs) was published in September 2001; and advice about promoting a public debate on possible GM crop commercialisation in April 2002. 

2. The animals and biotechnology report can be viewed here

3. Press calls to Pat Wilson on 0208 675 1066