Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to introduce legislation to prevent the importation of embryos from cloned animals of any description; the timeframe in relation to same; if she has no such plans, the reason she does not; the scope that exists within the EU constitutional framework to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3748/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The emergence of cloned animals and embryos from these animals raise issues on a number of fronts, which need to be addressed.

I have taken this matter up with the EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, as it is preferable, I believe, that such issues are dealt with on a community-wide basis.

Breeding legislation relating to the trade of animals and their semen, ova and embryos within the EU and into the EU from third countries is governed through a number of legal instruments originating from the EU Commission. Currently this legislation does not specifically refer to cloned animals or their embryos.