Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the cloning of animals of the bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine species kept and reproduced for farming purposes
Date: 2013-12-18
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: animal breeding, animal welfare, cattle, cloning, equidae, goat, market approval, marketing standard, sheep, swine













EUR-Lex - 52013PC0892 - EN











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52013PC0892

Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the cloning of animals of the bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine species kept and reproduced for farming purposes /* COM/2013/0892 final - 2013/0433 (COD) */









EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.           CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
1.1.        Background of the proposal
Cloning is a relatively new technique of
asexual reproduction of animals producing near exact genetic copies of the
animal cloned, i.e. without modification of genes.
In food production cloning is a new technique.
Hence, under the current legislative framework, food from clones falls under
the scope of the Novel Food Regulation[1]
and is thus subject to pre-market approval based on a food safety risk
assessment.
In 2008 the Commission presented a proposal[2] to streamline the
approval process in the Novel Food Regulation. In the legislative procedure
lawmakers aimed to amend the proposal to introduce specific rules on cloning[3]. Yet no agreement was
reached on the scope and features of these insertions so that the proposal was
abandoned after a failed Conciliation in March 2011. As a result the Commission
was asked to prepare a legislative proposal on cloning in food production based
on an impact assessment outside the Novel Food Regulation[4].
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) views
cloning primarily as an animal welfare hazard related to the low efficiency of
the technique. It up-dated its opinion on cloning of animals in 2012[5] concluding that
scientific knowledge available on cloning has increased but that nevertheless
its efficiency remains low compared to other reproduction techniques.
1.2.        Objectives of the proposal
The objective of this proposal is to ensure uniform conditions of production for farmers while
protecting the health and welfare of animals.
1.3.        Regulatory framework
Directive 98/58/EC[6] on the protection of
animals kept for farming purposes sets very general minimum animal welfare
standards for animals used in agriculture. It does not refer explicitly to cloning,
but calls on Member States to avoid unnecessary pain, suffering or injury in
farm animals. If cloning causes unnecessary pain, suffering or injury Member
States have to act at national level to avoid it.
1.4.        Consistency with other
policies and objectives of the Union
This initiative responds to the above-mentioned
concerns while avoiding unnecessary burdens for farmers and breeders
established in the Union and in third countries. 
The proposal envisages a suspension on Union
territory of:
•        the use of the technique for food
production purposes; 
•        the marketing of live clones (animal
clones).
These provisional prohibitions will confine a
production technique causing distress to animals to areas where it appears to
have particular benefit.
The provisional prohibitions are kept under
review given the development of knowledge on the technique and progress in the
application of the technique in areas outside farming.
This initiative excludes cloning carried out in
research, for the preservation of rare breeds or endangered species and for the
production of medicinal products and medical devices.
2.           RESULTS OF CONSULTATIONS
WITH THE INTERESTED PARTIES AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT
2.1.        Consultation process
2.1.1.     Consultation methods and
main sectors targeted
Member States, stakeholders and third country
trade partners were consulted. 
The Standing Committee for the Food Chain and
Animal Health was the main forum for discussions with Member States. In
addition all Member States completed a specific questionnaire on cloning on
their territory.
Stakeholders were consulted in the Advisory
Group of the Food Chain. Twenty-two organisations representing all sectors
concerned (farmers, breeders, food industry, retailers, consumers and animal
rights activists) participated. In addition five technical meetings were held
with organisations representing farmers, breeders and the food industry.
A specific questionnaire was sent to the 15
major third country trade partners of which 13 replied.
The general public was consulted via the
Interactive Policy Making Initiative in March 2012. This tool reaches
approximately 6000 subscribers of which 360 replied[7]. 
Two Eurobarometer surveys addressed cloning: a
2008 specific survey on cloning[8]
performed in 27 Member States and a 2010 survey on biotechnology[9] with specific questions
on cloning performed in 27 Member States and 5 non-Union European countries.
The specific report on cloning by the European
Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) of 2008[10] expressed doubts that
animal cloning for farming purposes can be justified "considering the
current level of suffering and health problems of surrogate dams and animal
clones". The EGE also concluded that it did "not see
convincing arguments to justify the production of food from clones and their
offspring".
2.1.2.     Summary of responses and
how they have been taken into account
Member States confirmed that animals are
presently not cloned for faming purposes in the Union. The economic sectors
involved (farming and breeding) indicated that they have, at this time, no
interest to produce animals for farm purposes though cloning. Farmers and
breeders however stressed that to remain competitive they need to have access
to high performance genes including the reproductive material of clones.
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the United States confirmed that animals are cloned on their
territory but could not indicate to what extent. In Brazil, Canada and United States clones are registered by
private companies. In Canada the legal situation on
cloning is similar to that in the Union, i.e. food produced from animal clones
is considered novel and requires pre-market approval. Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Paraguay and the United States pointed out that
measures should be science-based. They moreover stressed that measures should
be no more trade-restrictive than necessary to fulfil legitimate objectives.
Union citizens, on the other hand, held a
broadly negative perception of the use of the cloning technique for the production
of animals for farming purposes.
This initiative takes account of the results of
the consultations. It addresses justified concerns in a proportionate manner
and considers the limits of the powers conferred to the Commission by the
Treaties. This implies limiting the measures to the animals concerned (i.e. the
surrogate mothers and the clones) and the species likely to be cloned (bovine,
porcine, caprine, ovine and equine) for farming purposes.
2.1.3.     External expertise
In 2008 the European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA) delivered an opinion on cloning. It focused on animal clones, their
progeny and of the products obtained from those animals. This opinion was
up-dated by three statements in 2009, 2010 and 2012[11]. Based on the
available data EFSA saw animal welfare problems related to the health of
surrogate mothers (carrying the clones) and the clones themselves. Surrogate dams
suffer in particular from placenta dysfunctions contributing to increased
levels of miscarriages. This contributes, amongst others, to the low efficiency
of the technique (6-15 % for bovine and 6 % for porcine species) and the need
to implant embryo clones into several dams to obtain one clone. In addition,
clone abnormalities and unusually large offspring result in difficult births
and neonatal death. A high mortality rate is a characteristic of the cloning
technique. On the other hand EFSA repeatedly stated that cloning has no impact
on the safety of meat and milk obtained from the clones.
2.2.        Impact assessment[12]
Based on the experience gained in the
legislative procedure which failed in March 2011 and the positions expresses by
stakeholders, four options were assessed[13].
As a result of the analysis of the four options, and considering their impacts
and the objectives pursued, elements of Option 4 (i.e. temporary suspension of
the technique and of imports of live clones) were retained as the basis of the
present proposal. Suspending the use of the technique and the marketing of animal
clones for farming purposes ensures that all Union farmers and breeders are
subject to the same conditions while adequately protecting animal welfare. To
preserve the competitiveness of Union farmers, the proposal does not regulate
reproductive material of clones.
3.           LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE
PROPOSAL
3.1.        Legal basis 
The proposal is based on Article 43 TFEU
(agriculture). The objectives of the Union's agricultural policy enumerated in
Article 39 TFEU require ensuring, amongst others, the
rational development of agricultural production. This implies ensuring uniform
conditions of production for farmers. In choosing the means to achieve
these objectives, account must also be taken of Article 13 TFEU. Article 13
TFEU requires that in formulating and implementing of, amongst others, the
Union's agriculture policy that the Union and the Member States pay full regard
to the welfare requirements of animals since they are sentient beings.
3.2.        Subsidiarity principle
Isolated approaches to animal cloning could
lead to distortions of the agricultural markets concerned. It is thus necessary
to ensure that the same conditions apply and thus to address the matter at
Union level.
3.3.        Proportionality principle
The suspension of the cloning technique and the
suspension of imports of live clones are suitable and necessary measures to
achieve the objectives. They also present the best cost-benefit ratio to
resolve the issues at stake. 
At its present state of development it appears
that the use of the cloning technique for farming purposes is of limited
benefit. For this reason, this proposal addresses only those aspects related to
animal production for farming purposes. It does not cover other areas where
cloning can be justified due to a positive risk-benefit ratio (such as research
or the use of reproductive material of clones).
The suspension of the cloning technique and of
imports of animal clones for farming purposes thus strikes a reasonable fair
balance between animal welfare, citizens' concerns and the interests of
farmers, breeders and other stakeholders involved.
3.4.        Choice of instruments
The proposed instrument is a Directive. Other
types of measures would not be appropriate for the following reasons:
(i)      a directive allows Member States
employ existing control tools as appropriate for the implementation of Union rules
and thus to limit the administrative burden;
(ii)     soft law instruments are considered
insufficient to prevent the use of a technique throughout the Union.
In accordance with the Joint Political
Declaration of Member States and the Commission on explanatory documents,
Member States have undertaken to accompany, only in justified cases, the
notification of their transposition measures with one or more explanatory
documents explaining the relationship between the components of a directive and
the corresponding parts of national transposition instruments. Considering the
limited legal obligations set by this Directive, explanatory documents from the
Member States in the context of transposition of this Directive are not needed.
4.           BUDGETARY IMPLICATION
This initiative has no budgetary implications for
the EU and requires no additional human resources in the Commission.
2013/0433 (COD)
Proposal for a
DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
AND OF THE COUNCIL
on the cloning of animals of the bovine,
porcine, ovine, caprine and equine species kept and reproduced for farming
purposes
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(2),
Having regard to the proposal from the
European Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the
European Economic and Social Committee,
After transmission of the proposal to the
national Parliaments,
Acting in accordance with the ordinary
legislative procedure,
Whereas:
(1)       Council Directive 98/58/EC[14] lays down general
minimum welfare standards for animals bred or kept for farming purposes. It
calls on Member States to avoid unnecessary pain, suffering or injury of farm
animals. If cloning causes unnecessary pain, suffering or injury, Member States
have to act at national level to avoid it. Different national approaches to
animal cloning could lead to market distortion. It is thus necessary to ensure
that the same conditions apply to all involved in the production and distribution
of live animals throughout the Union.
(2)       The European Food Safety
Authority (EFSA) has confirmed that surrogate dams used in cloning suffer in
particular from placenta dysfunctions contributing to increased levels of
miscarriages[15].
This contributes, amongst other things, to the low efficiency of the technique,
6 to 15 % for bovine and 6 % for porcine species, and the need to implant
embryo clones into several dams to obtain one clone. In addition, clone
abnormalities and unusually large offspring result in
difficult births and neonatal deaths.
(3)       Taking into account the
objectives of the Union's agricultural policy, the results of the recent
scientific assessments of EFSA and the animal welfare requirement provided in Article
13 of the Treaty, it is prudent to provisionally prohibit the use of cloning in
animal production for farm purposes of certain species.
(4)       Currently animals of
bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine species are likely to be cloned for farming
purposes. The scope of this Directive should therefore be limited to the use of
cloning for farming purposes of those five species.
(5)       It is expected that the
knowledge on the impact of the cloning technique on the welfare of the animals
used will increase. The cloning technique is likely to improve over time.
Consequently prohibitions should only apply provisionally. This Directive
should therefore be reviewed within a reasonable time taking into account the
experience gained by the Member States in its implementation, scientific and technical progress and
international developments.
(6)       This Directive respects
the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised by the Charter of
Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and notably the freedom to conduct a
business and the freedom of the sciences. This Directive has to be implemented
in accordance with these rights and principles.
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1 
Subject matter and scope
This Directive lays down rules on:
(a)          the cloning of animals in the Union;
(b)          the placing on the market of
embryo clones and animal clones.
It shall apply to animals of the bovine,
porcine, ovine, caprine and equine species ('the animals') kept and reproduced for
farming purposes.
Article 2 
Definitions
For the purposes of this Directive, the
following definitions shall apply:
(a)          animals "kept and reproduced for farming purposes"
means animals kept and reproduced for the production of food, wool, skin or fur
or for other farming purposes. It shall not include animals kept and reproduced
exclusively for other purposes such as research, the production of medicinal
products and medical devices, the preservation of rare breeds or endangered
species, sporting and cultural events;
(b)          "cloning" means asexual
reproduction of animals with a technique whereby the nucleus of a cell of an
individual animal is transferred into an oocyte from which the nucleus has been
removed to create genetically identical individual embryos ("embryo clones"),
that can subsequently be implanted into surrogate mothers in order to produce
populations of genetically identical animals ("animal clone");
(c)          "placing on the market"
means the first making available of an animal or a product on the internal market.

Article 3
Provisional prohibition
Member States shall provisionally prohibit:
(a)          the cloning of animals;
(b)          the placing on the market of animal
clones and embryo clones.
Article 4
Penalties
Member States shall lay
down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of the national
provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive and shall take all measures
necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for must
be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Member States shall notify those
provisions to the Commission by [date for
transposition of the Directive] at the latest and shall notify it without
delay of any subsequent amendment affecting them.’
Article 5
Reporting and Review
1.           By [date = 5 years after the date
of transposition of this Directive], the Member States shall report to the
Commission on the experience gained by them on the application of this
Directive.
2.           The Commission shall present a
report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this
Directive taking into account:
(a)     the reports submitted by Member States
in accordance with paragraph 1;
(b)     scientific and technical progress, in
particular relating to the animal welfare aspects of cloning;
(c)     international developments. 
Article 6
Transposition
1.           Member States shall bring into
force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply
with this Directive by [date = 12 month after the date of transposition of this
Directive]. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of
those provisions.
When Member States adopt those provisions, they
shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a
reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall
determine how such reference is to be made.
2.           Member States shall communicate
to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they
adopt in the field covered by this Directive. 
Article 7 
Entering into force
This
Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. 
Article 8
Addressees
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, [Date].
For the European Parliament                        For
the Council
The President                                                 The
President
[1]               Regulation (EC) N° 258/97 of the European Parliament
and the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food
ingredients.
[2]               Proposal
for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on novel foods
COM(2007) 872 final of 14.1.2008. 
[3]               Report from the Commission to the European Parliament
and the Council on animal cloning for food production COM (2010) 585 of
19.10.2010 suggested to (i) to suspend temporarily the use of the cloning
technique, clones and of food from clones for five years; (ii) to trace
imported reproductive materials of clones. http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/docs/20101019_report_ec_cloning_en.pdf
[4]               For example, the European Parliament resolution of 6
July 2011 on the Commission Work Programme 2012 requested a legislative
proposal to prohibit food from clones, offspring and descendants: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P7-TA-2011-0327+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN
(Procedure 2011/2627(RSP), point 31)
[5]               EFSA Statement of 2012 overall conclusion p.18. EFSA
statements 2012 and 2010:         
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2794.htm and 
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1784.htm
[6]               Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning
the protection of animals kept for farming purposes OJ L 221, 8.8.1998, p. 23.
[7]               Of which: 34 came from professional organisations, 34
from non-governmental organisations,16 from national administrative bodies, 1
from a third country, 9 from enterprises, 26 from the academia, 10 from Member
States and 230 from individuals.
[8]               European
attitudes towards animal cloning http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_238_en.pdf
and http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/resources/docs/eurobarometer_cloning_sum_en.pdf
[9]               Special
Eurobarometer, Biotechnology report, October 2010    
http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf
[10]             Ethical aspects of animal cloning for food supply 16
January 2008:      
http://ec.europa.eu/bepa/european-group-ethics/docs/publications/opinion23_en.pdf       
http://ec.europa.eu/bepa/european-group-ethics/docs/publications/opinion23_en.pdf
[11]             Food safety, animal health and
welfare and environmental impact of animals derived from cloning by SCNT and
their offspring and products obtained from those animals (opinion and
statements):    
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/767.pdf; http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/319r.pdf; http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/1784.pdf; http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/2794.pdf
[12]             See for further details the accompanying Impact
assessment Commission Staff working document SEC (2013) XXX.
[13]             (1) no policy change, (2) pre-market approval of food
from clones, offspring and descendants, (3) labelling of food from clones,
offspring and descendants, (4) suspension of the cloning techniques and of
imports of live clones, of food from clones and of reproductive material of
clones.
[14]             Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning
the protection of animals kept for farming purposes (OJ L 221, 8.8.1998, p.
23).
[15]             Scientific Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Food
Safety, Animal Health and Welfare and Environmental Impact of Animals derived
from Cloning by Somatic Cell Nucleus Transfer (SCNT) and their Offspring and
Products Obtained from those Animals 
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/cloning.htm?wtrl=01