The Food and Drug Administration reported Tuesday its conclusion that the meat and milk from clones of cattle, goats and hogs are safe for human consumption.

The FDA report is the result of years of study and analysis by the federal agency on cloned animals, finding that the meat and milk from those cloned animals is no different from meat and milk from animals conceived through traditional breeding practices. It also found that the meat and milk of the offspring of those cloned animals are also safe to eat.

Those three species of livestock — cattle, goats and hogs — are the only species of livestock approved in the decision. The FDA reported that there was insufficient information to make a ruling on other livestock species.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, was asked about the ruling Tuesday on a conference call with agriculture reporters. "I'm not sure I appreciate cloning as much as maybe I ought to," said Grassley. He said that as long as it's a "sound science decision" that is within the rules of the World Trade Organization, he isn't opposed to it. "Assuming the science has not been compromised, then I accept it."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported that there are approximately 600 livestock animal clones in the United States. There is currently a voluntary moratorium among cloning technology providers from sending meat and milk from these clones into the food supply. The USDA issued a statement Tuesday noting that it will be working to ensure a "smooth and seamless transition into the marketplace for these products."

Foes of animal cloning have pushed against the products being allowed into the marketplace. About one year ago, Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski introduced legislation that would require all foods containing products from cloned animals be labeled "This product is from a cloned animal or its progeny."

National Farmers Union President Tom Buis issued a press release Tuesday stating his organization's opposition to the introduction of food products from cloned animals into the marketplace. "In the face of ever-increasing food safety concerns, it is troubling to see the FDA approval of products from cloned animals to be sold to the public, when questions surrounding the health risks, legal implications and ethical concerns remain unanswered. Furthermore, there is no data to suggest any consumer demand for such products," said Buis in the press release. "The economic implications of introducing products from cloned animals into the marketplace could be potentially devastating for family farmers and consumers."

Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, who chairs the House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry, recently introduced legislation calling for further study of the issue by the USDA to examine the economic and trade impact of food products from cloned animals.

The House-passed version of the new Farm Bill does not address the issue, but the Senate's version contains an amendment calling for further study. The House and Senate will soon convene a conference committee to iron out differences between the two versions of the Farm Bill.