The Parliament's environment, public health and food safety committee reaffirmed yesterday (4 May) the House's first-reading decision to entirely exclude food derived from cloned animals and their offspring from the EU's novel foods regulation.
Instead, MEPs asked the Commission to present a separate legislative proposal on the matter.
The new report follows a 2008 Parliament resolution calling for a ban on cloning for food supply purposes and an embargo on imports of cloned animals, their produce and offspring (EurActiv 04/09/08).
The Commission's initial proposal would have included food derived from cloned animals but not their traditionally-bred offspring. The Council is in favour of including in the regulation food from both cloned animals and their offspring.
The committee's report will be transmitted for approval by the full assembly for a second-reading vote. If it is approved - which is very likely considering the House's past positions on the matter - and the Council sticks to its position, the dossier will be heading for a conciliation procedure.
Risk assessment for 'nanofood'
MEPs also voted to exclude foods produced by nanotechnology processes from the EU authorisation list until they have undergone a specific risk assessment regarding their possible impact on health.
Once approved, all food containing nanomaterials will need to be clearly indicated on the ingredients list, MEPs said.
Ethics
Lawmakers also stressed that "the opinion of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies on the ethical and environmental implications must be sought when necessary" before a product is included on the list of accepted novel foods in the EU.
