Since the famous sheep Dolly was cloned in July 1996, animal replication went from being pure science fiction to becoming reality. However, almost 30 years later, many people still think this practice is not legal. But did you know that in Europe animal cloning is not prohibited in all cases?
Although it is true that there are significant restrictions, European legislation allows animal cloning under certain conditions, since its applications are more beneficial than people might imagine. In this article, we will debunk all the myths surrounding this practice and explain what European law really says.
The EU makes it clear: cloning yes, but with conditions
By cloning we mean the biotechnological process capable of producing genetically identical copies of an existing animal, using techniques such as nuclear transfer. This form of assisted reproduction has been in place, as we mentioned earlier, since the birth of the first mammal through these techniques, the sheep Dolly.
Since then, the European Union has addressed animal cloning mainly in the context of livestock farming and food production, distinguishing these uses from other scientific or medical purposes. Depending on the objective, it will either be prohibited or permitted.
What does the European Union prohibit?
The European Union has been drafting and updating regulations and legislation on animal cloning within its territory. In general, there is a restrictive stance for commercial and food purposes, but a more permissive one for research or conservation purposes.
Since 2010, the European Commission has proposed a temporary suspension of these activities for food production. Ethical concerns led the Commission, in 2013, to adopt legislative proposals to prohibit the use of cloning techniques in farm animals, the import of such clones, and the marketing of food derived from clones. This includes the meat or milk of cloned animals.
These measures sought to address concerns about animal welfare and the ethical objections of European consumers. However, specific European legislative initiatives were not adopted due to the lack of a final agreement in the Council. Nevertheless, a political moratorium remains in force: no cloning is carried out for livestock purposes in the EU, and no clones or their embryos are imported for such purposes.
Therefore, as long as no specific legislation is in force, food obtained from cloned animals is considered “novel food” under Regulation (EC) 258/1997 (currently replaced by Regulation (EU) 2015/2283). This means that any food product from clones would require a safety assessment and prior authorisation from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) before being placed on the market.
Additionally, the new organic production regulation expressly prohibits the use of cloning in the breeding of organic animals (Regulation EU 2018/848), which reinforces the exclusion of this technique, at least in the field of organic livestock farming.
What does the European Union allow in animal cloning?
The European Union allows the use of animal cloning for companion animals, cloning for scientific research, and the cloning or preservation of endangered species, as well as the use of these practices to produce medicines or medical devices.
The only premise is to comply with general animal welfare standards and the ethical framework. Therefore, cloning animals for non-food purposes is not prohibited.
Myths and misinformation about animal cloning
It is striking that, despite being a normalised practice for almost 30 years, there are still myths and misinformation that distort the reality surrounding animal cloning.
This biotechnological tool has fundamental applications for animal survival. Let’s take a practical example: would you like extinct animals such as dinosaurs to come back to life? Or for the concept of ‘endangered species’ to cease to exist? All these answers point in a single direction: science.
Recently, it was the dire wolf that came back to life. An icon of prehistoric megafauna, it dominated the Americas during the Pleistocene. Extinct for more than 12,000 years, this legendary predator (perhaps you remember it from series such as Game of Thrones) has once again captured global attention thanks to an unprecedented biotechnological milestone: its partial de-extinction.
Through a combination of CRISPR, cloning and synthetic biology, scientists have succeeded in recreating a living organism that carries key genes of the dire wolf. An unprecedented breakthrough that reaffirms the importance of science in the field of animal cloning and its applicability in providing enormous value to the world. This, today and for many years now, has been legal in Europe.
Its use is also permitted to clone the human being’s best and most loyal friend: pets. In most European countries, this practice is completely legal, provided that animal welfare regulations are respected, as it ensures that no animal suffers in these procedures.
However, many citizens still believe that cloning an animal is prohibited or that it is a science fiction fantasy. In fact, quite the opposite. The reality is that it is legal, technically and emotionally feasible, and that there are already real cases – increasingly frequent – of people who have once again enjoyed the company of their pet thanks to the DNA of the one they loved so much.
The only drawback that still prevents this practice from becoming a widespread and everyday option for all citizens is its high cost, as the cloning of pets such as dogs or cats currently amounts to around 55,000 euros.
Is cloning legal in Spain? The answer is clear: YES. In the words of legal experts, cloning a pet in Spain is neither a crime nor expressly prohibited, falling instead into a legal grey area subject to applicable animal welfare and health regulations. For this reason, companies such as Ovoclone offer this opportunity to all those who wish to have their adorable and beloved pet once again.
Conclusion
Animal cloning, in Spain and Europe, is not a forbidden field but one full of opportunities and possibilities, governed by very clear ethical standards. Today, thanks to the progress of science, it is possible to help, preserve and even heal without the need for controversy or moral conflict.