80% of People are against using Cloned Animals for Food.

The government received an unexpectedly great amount of public comments concerning the use of cloned animals for food. It is reported that this led to another diet discussion. ALIVE hopes that the plan on using cloned animals for food does not move forward.
In addition to the harm this plan would do to animals in general it will also benefit only a few businesses.

The ALIVE’s Position and Opinion on Cloned Animals for Food.

Cabinet Office Committee “Cloned Animals for Food is Safe”, more than 80% of people are skeptical.

Yormiuri Newspaper (June 8th, 2009)
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/science/news/20090608-OYT1T01072.htm

* The Cabinet Office Food Safety Commission stated on the 8th, “cloned cow or pig products are as safe as the meat currently sold on the market”, however 80% of the public was skeptical and expressed concerns and opposition to cloned animal products.

* Of the 80%, 1.6% questioned the evaluation methods.

* 13% said “explicit food labeling should be mandated” and they were concerned about distribution and labeling. 10% questioned the ethics, 8% were concerned about long-term effects on their health from consuming cloned animal products.

“Feeling uncomfortable”, 70% are critical.
People’s opinions about Cloned Animal Food
The Safety Commission asked the Diet to deliberate the issue again.

Sankei Newspaper (May 27th, 2009)
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20090527-00000110-san-pol

* On the 26th, after the Cabinet Office Food Safety Commission reported that cloned animals for food is safe, the commission received 172 opinions in 1 month, 70% of them expressed opposition to cloned animals for food, and expressed feeling “uncomfortable” about it.

* The Safety Commission is planning to deliberate on the safety evaluation by the special examination committee. Consumers strongly opposed cloning, on ethical and religious grounds. This led to the commission to debate the matter again.

* March 12, 2009, the Commission announced, “Foods derived from cloned cows and swine, and from the offspring of clones, are as safe as food from conventionally bred animals.” The result was posted on the internet for 30 days with the intention of collecting opinions from the public, to be reported to The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

* The Safety Commission received 172 opinions. 70% of the were critical, opposing cloned animals for food, on the grounds it made them feel “uncomfortable”. Some of the opinions expressed the need to “deliberate more” and only 2 - 3 % agreed with the commission's findings.

* The Commission postponed reporting the results to the Health Ministry and formed the “New Development of Food Special Committee” in which evaluation systems and methods will be discussed.

* The Commission conducts deliberations and evaluations on over 100 food and chemicals each year and collects public opinions before reporting. They usually collect only a few opinions and don’t have to ask for another deliberations, thus this matter is a very unique case.

<Related Sites>

Collecting public comments on the findings of the committee to discuss safety of foods derived from cloned cows and swine, and from the offspring of cloned animals.
Public Comments Collected from March 12 to April 10, 2009
http://www.fsc.go.jp/iken-bosyu/pc1_shinkaihatu_clone_210312.html

Cabinet Office Food Safety Commission Category Information “New Development of Food Special Committee”
“New Development of Food Special Committee” Working Group (Safety of foods derived from cloned cows and swine, and from the offspring of cloned animals.)
http://www.fsc.go.jp/senmon/sinkaihatu/index.html