HR 4855 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To require studies by the Secretary of Agriculture on the effects of food products from cloned animals entering the food supply.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

December 19, 2007

Mr. BOSWELL (for himself, Mr. KAGEN, and Mrs. GILLIBRAND) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To require studies by the Secretary of Agriculture on the effects of food products from cloned animals entering the food supply.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. STUDIES AND REPORTS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ON FOOD PRODUCTS FROM CLONED ANIMALS.

(a) Study by the Department of Agriculture-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the `Secretary'), in coordination with the Economic Research Service, and after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs), shall conduct a study on the economic and trade impact of agricultural exports of food products from cloned animals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONTENT OF STUDY- The study under paragraph (1) shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) an analysis of the domestic agricultural and international trade economic implications of permitting commercialization of milk and meat from cloned animals and their progeny into the food supply, with special attention to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) the impact on Federal agricultural expenditures; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) meat and milk exports shifts that would take place as other countries react to that commercialization, including the potential for other countries to ban exports from the United States; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) estimates of the consumer and exporter behavioral responses that must be factored into both the economic impact analysis and the health impact analysis required under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Study With the Government Accountability Office on Monitoring Food Products From Cloned Animals-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary, in coordination with Comptroller General of the United States, shall conduct a study on the programs in place at the Department of Agriculture to monitor food products from cloned animals if such products enter the food supply.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONTENT OF STUDY- The study under paragraph (1) shall include an evaluation of the processes in place at the Department of Agriculture to monitor food products from cloned animals throughout the food supply. The study shall also include a review of existing studies and literature, from the United States and other countries and organizations, that relate to the evaluation of the safety of food products from cloned animals and methods for monitoring such products in the food supply.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Study With the Government Accountability Office on the Health Effects and Costs Attributable to Milk From Cloned Animals in the Food Supply-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs), and in coordination with Comptroller General of the United States, shall conduct a study on the health effects and costs attributable to milk from cloned animals in the food supply.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONTENT OF STUDY- The study under paragraph (1) shall include an evaluation and measurement of the potential public health effects and associated health care costs, including any consumer behavior changes and negative impacts on nutrition, and prevention of osteoporosis and other chronic disease that result from any decrease in milk consumption, attributable to the commercialization of milk from cloned animals and their progeny.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Study With the National Academy of Sciences-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall contract with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study and report to Congress regarding the safety of food products derived from cloned animals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONTENT OF STUDY- The study under paragraph (1) shall include a review and an assessment of whether the studies (including peer review studies), data, and analysis used in the draft risk assessment issued by the Food and Drug Administration entitled Animal Cloning: A Draft Risk Assessment (issued on December 28, 2006) supported the conclusions drawn by such draft risk assessment and--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) whether there were a sufficient number of studies to support such conclusions; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) whether additional pertinent studies and data exist which were not considered in the draft risk assessment and how this additional information affects the conclusions drawn in such draft risk assessment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Rule of Construction- Nothing in this section shall be construed to impede ongoing scientific research in artificial reproductive health technologies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Timeframe for Studies- The Secretary shall complete the studies required under this section prior to issuance by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs of the final risk assessment on the safety of cloned animals and food products derived from cloned animals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Continuance of Moratorium- The voluntary moratorium on introducing food from cloned animals or their progeny into the food supply, as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, shall remain in effect at least until the date that the Secretary of Health and Human Services (acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs) issues the final risk assessment described in subsection (f).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink