DATE=10/31/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CLONED ANIMALS / FOOD (S)

NUMBER=2-309293

BYLINE=DAVID McALARY

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

INTERNET=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S government food regulators say food from healthy cloned animals and their offspring does not appear to pose a health risk. But as V-O-A's David McAlary reports, they are not ready to approve food production from such animals.

TEXT: In a draft report, the U-S Food and Drug Administration, or F-D-A, says cloned animals that develop normally appear to be as healthy as their conventional counterparts.

It states that clones and their normally bred offspring are likely to be as safe to eat as uncloned animals.

The report is a preliminary finding, based on a study last year by the U-S National Academy of Sciences and nearly 100 cattle studies since.

Consumer groups are expressing opposition to the findings. But Deputy F-D-A Commissioner Lester Crawford says the agency will not decide to allow food production from clones, until its scientists conduct further risk assessment, and public hearings are held.

/// CRAWFORD ACT ///

We will now be looking concretely at what the risks are, based on whatever is available throughout the world.

/// END ACT ///

The F-D-A is asking U-S farmers to continue the moratorium on food production from clones, until it settles the matter. (SIGNED)

NEB/DEM/FC/TW