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can clones be certified organic?
It seems to be assumed that clones cannot hurt because they are not
natural. Clones, like all of us suffer pain but clones presently suffer
more than we should allow.
the independent
Clones can suffer, too
06 October 2002
Our revelation today that milk and meat from cloned animals and their
offspring may soon be on the market should cause farmers and ministers
to stop and think where they are taking agriculture and food. The
public's rejection of GM produce, and its enthusiasm for organic food,
has shown clearly that it does not want such a hi- tech future. But
ministers – despite their protestations that they want more
environmentally friendly agriculture – continue to be blinded by
science, and to acquiesce in the drive towards the ultimate in factory
farming.
The concern is not so much about health risks from cloning, but about
the suffering it causes animals, the clones and their surrogate mothers.
Scandalously, despite the importance people attach to animal welfare, it
is not taken into account in the legislation and controls that would be
applied to cloned produce.
The number of cloned animals at present is small. To mass-produce them
may never be economic. But we cannot rely on that. Now is the time to
get the controls in place, to insist that if the science causes
suffering it should not be allowed. There are few benefits; as an
expensive technology it will produce expensive food for wealthy
consumers, not help to feed the world. The Government has neglected to
consider this issue properly, let alone draw up regulations. It should
do so urgently, before another step is taken towards bringing on the clones.
.