During the last week of December 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded that meat and milk products from cloned animals are safe for human consumption. This means that cloned livestock products could eventually appear on grocery store shelves across the country, although it would probably be several years until cloned products are widely available, as the cost of cloningtechnology is expensive. FDA also stated that it will not be necessary to label cloned meat and milk as such, making cloned products virtually indistinguishable from conventional products.

FACT opposes cloning (as a reproductive option for livestock) both because of its negative impacts on animal welfare and its potential to compromise food safety. If cloned products are allowed in the food supply, FACT feels that it is essential they be clearly and concisely labeled so that consumers can make informed purchasing decisions.

According to FDA, “an animal clone is a genetic copy of a donor animal, similar to identical twins but born at different times.” There are, however, many problems associated with the cloning process that reduce animal welfare such as high pregnancy failure rates, large offspring syndrome, and, in some cases, premature death of the surrogate mother or her cloned baby. Large offspring syndrome, which is when a cloned fetus grows to an abnormally large size, makes delivery painful and dangerous for the mother. Although these complications are not unique to cloning technology, cloning is known to increase the frequency at which such serious health problems occur. Moreover, extensive, long-term studies that consider the safety of cloned food products are also needed to protect consumers before cloning is allowed. For more information on the impacts of cloning, read the Organic Center’s new report, Is the FDA’s Cloning Proposal Ready for Prime Time?, located at http://www.o rganic- center.org/reportfiles/Cloning_final.pdf/html

FDA is seeking public input on cloning until April 2. To protect animal welfare and human health, write to the agency and urge it to reconsider its stance on cloning and, at minimum, require clear labeling on cloned products. You can submit comments electronically by searching for docket number 2003N- 0573 at: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/script s/oc/dockets/comments/commentdocket.cfm? AGENCY=FDA

In our last e-newsletter, we reported on a significant victory that FACT and the Keep Antibiotics Working (KAW) coalition won for public health. Last September, FACT presented evidence to an FDA expert panel showing that a proposed new drug for the treatment of respiratory disease in cattle could lead to antibiotic resistance problems. The expert panel agreed with us stating that the drug, cefquinome, had not been shown to be safe. Usually when a FDA expert panel decides that a drug is unsafe, the manufacturer will voluntarily stop seeking approval. In this case the drug’s maker, Intervet, has stated it intends to push for approval.

Since September, FACT has continued to pressure FDA to accept the finding of the expert panel and not approve the drug. Earlier this month, FACT sent FDA information on two new European studies that showed that resistance to drugs in the same class as cefquinome was more wide spread on farms than was previously known. This is because cefquinome has been used for livestock in Europe for over 10 years. In addition, Representative Louise Slaughter, the chair of the house rules committee and the only microbiologist in Congress, sent a letter to the FDA also asking that the FDA heed the panel’s finding. Even the media has weighed-in—for example, the Denver Post published an op/ed earlier this month that warned of the dangers associated with approving cefquinome (available at http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_5018879).

While FACT believes that drugs should be available for the treatment of sick animals, in this case we felt that the benefits did not outweigh the risks. For example, there are currently 14 other drugs that have already been approved for the treatment of respiratory disease in cattle. There is no evidence that resistance is making any of them ineffective. In addition, this disease occurs largely because cattle are weaned too abruptly and then shipped across the country to huge feedlots. Treatment of respiratory disease can thus be viewed as a crutch for poor management. Finally, cefquinome belongs to a class of drugs that is not currently approved for use in animals in the U.S. In humans, this class of drugs is reserved for the treatment for serious and life- threatening infections. Approving cefquinome for the most common cattle disease, when there are plenty of effective alternatives available, is inappropriate and irresponsible.

Over the past few months, FACT has been busy taking initial steps to redesign our website and possibly change our website address. We believe that our website is a vital communication tool in our efforts to improve farm animal welfare, improve food safety and public health, broaden the opportunities for family farmers, and to reduce pollution.

To make the new website as user-friendly and recognizable as possible, we need to hear from you. After doing extensive research on possible domain names, below are several options to consider:

www.fact.cc (FACT’s current domain name)

www.foodanimalconcernstrust.org

www.foodanimal.org

www.factchicago.org

www.factfoodanimal.org

Which domain name do you believe works the best for FACT? Is there one particular name you feel strongly for or against? Why? Please email Jacki Rossi at jrossi@fact.cc with feedback regarding the new domain name by February 2. Thank you for your input!