Kinship Circle: LETTER / Clones For Dinner? FDA Set To Approve Cloned Livestock
January 1st, 2007 1:26 pm by Kelly GarbatoUPDATE, 1/4/07:
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – info [at] kinshipcircle.org
Date: Jan 4, 2007 4:22 PM
Subject: PUBLIC COMMENTS OPEN/ Clones For Dinner?
Kinship Circle Primary – PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST AS WRITTEN
(Please do not delete identity/disclaimer information)
1/4/07: FDA has opened its public comments period on ANIMAL CLONING:
In addition to sending letters to government officials listed in our original alert below, PLEASE ALSO SEND COMMENTS TO THE FDA’S DIVISION OF DOCKETS MANAGEMENT. All comments become part of the official public record and may be published on the Agency website. We need to flood them with opposition to cloning livestock until the comments period ends, 4/2/07.
COMMENT PERIOD ENDS: 4/2/07
SUMMARY: Availability of, and request for comment on, Animal Cloning: A Draft Risk Assessment (to evaluate the health risks to animals involved in the process of cloning and to evaluate the food consumption risks that may result from edible products derived from animal clones or their progeny); draft Animal Cloning: Risk Management Plan for Clones and their Progeny; and draft GFI #179: Use of Edible Products from Animal Clones or their Progeny for Human Food or Animal Feed.
READ FDA CLONING REPORT HERE:
www.fda.gov/cvm/CloneRiskAssessment.htm
FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS BELOW TO SEND PUBLIC COMMENTS:
BY POSTAL MAIL, SEND AN ORIGINAL + 3 COPIES TO:
DOCKET ID: 2003N-0573
Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
SUBMIT COMMENTS ONLINE:
DOCKET MANAGEMENT ONLINE COMMENT FORM FOR 2003N-0573
If you can’t access public comments form via URL above, follow these steps:
1. GO TO: www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments
2. CLICK ON: Docket Search [top left of page]
3. DOCKET ID: Enter “2003N-0573”
4. DOCKET TITLE: “Enter Draft Animal Cloning Risk Assessment”
5. FR TYPE: Select “Notice”
6. ACTION: “Select Request for Comments”
7. On DOCKETS OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS Page, go to “SUBMIT” and click “GO”
8. Continue following steps on the comment form for 2003N-0573 [animal cloning]
ORIGINAL ALERT, INCLUDING SAMPLE LETTER
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – info [at] kinshipcircle.org
Date: Dec 31, 2006 2:52 PM
Subject: LETTER/ Clones For Dinner? FDA Set To Approve Cloned Livestock
Kinship Circle Primary – PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST AS WRITTEN
(Please do not delete identity/disclaimer information)
12/31/06 — Clones For Dinner? FDA Set To Approve Cloned Livestock
KINSHIP CIRCLE ACTION CAMPAIGN
SOURCE OF INFORMATION
FDA poised Thursday to approve food from cloned animals
Humane Society of the United States Criticizes FDA Approval of Food Products from Cloned Farm Animals and Their Offspring, WASHINGTON (12/28/06)
PRESS RELEASE: ESakach [at] hsus.org; Tracey McIntire, 301-548-7793, tmcintire [at] hsus.org; Erin Williams, 301-721-6446, ewilliams [at] hsus.org
**FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE: According to Associated Press, the FDA will accept comments from the public after issuing a risk assessment. This means an official public comments period will open under an assigned docket number. However, the FDA has NOT yet opened a docket for public comments. In the meantime, please express your dismay over the approval of cloned animals for
human consumption to government agencies listed below. We will issue another alert when the FDA formally requests public comments.
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CONTACT INFORMATION + EMAIL BLOCK
SAMPLE LETTER FOLLOWS
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**As of 12/31/06, There is NO FDA DOCKET OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS regarding use of cloned animals for human consumption. If comments are NOT related to a docket listed, you can submit written comments to:
Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
ph: 301-827-6860, 1-800-735-2258; fax: 301-827-6870
email: fdadockets [at] oc.fda.gov
U.S. Food And Drug Administration
Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D.
Acting Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
DHHS/FDA/OC, 5600 Fishers Lane
building/room: PKLN/1471, mailstop: HF-1
Rockville, Maryland 20857
ph: 301-827-2410; email: andrew.voneschenbach [at] fda.hhs.gov
web feedback form: www.fda.gov/comments/webform.html
website: www.fda.gov/ * directory.psc.gov/employee.htm
FDA/Center For Food Safety & Applied Nutrition
5100 Paint Branch Parkway
College Park, Maryland 20740-3835
website: www.cfsan.fda.gov/
Robert E. Brackett, Ph.D., CFSAN Office of the Center Director
ph: 301-436-1600; fax: 301-436-2668; email: robert.brackett [at] fda.hhs.gov
building/room: CPK1/4B064
David W.K. Acheson, M.D., CFSAN Office of Food Defense, Safety and Outreach Director
ph: 301-436-1910; fax: 301-439-2605; email: david.acheson [at] fda.hhs.gov
building/room: CPK1/3B003
Denise Knox-Riley, CFSAN Office of Management Systems Director
ph: 301-436-2424; fax: 301-436-2649; email: denise.riley [at] fda.hhs.gov
building/room: CPK1/4C004
Leslye M. Fraser, J.D., CFSAN Office of Regulations and Policy Director
ph: 301-436-2379; fax: 301-436-2637; email: leslye.fraser [at] fda.hhs.gov
building/room: CPK1/4A004
Robert L. Buchanan, Ph.D., CFSAN Office of Science Director
ph: 301-436-2369; fax: 301-436-2642; email: robert.buchanan [at] fda.hhs.gov
building/room: CPK1/2B064
Thomas A. Cebula, Ph.D., CFSAN Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment Director
ph: 301-210-6158; fax: 301-210-6093; email: thomas.cebula [at] fda.hhs.gov
building/room: MOD1/1023
Mike Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave., S.W., Room 615-F
Washington, DC 20201
ph: 202-619-0257; toll free: 1-877-696-6775
email: Mike.Leavitt_G06 [at] hhs.gov
FDA/Food Safety and Inspection Service
FSIS Food Safety Education and Communications Staff
Room 1175, South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20250
Labeling requirements for meat, poultry, egg products: FSIS.Labeling [at] usda.gov
National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection: NACMPI [at] fsis.usda.gov
New Technology Staff (regarding notifications or protocols): FSISTechnology [at] usda.gov
Regulations, comments on proposed: FSIS.RegulationsComments [at] usda.gov
USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline: 1-888-674-6854, 1-800-256-7072; email: mphotline.fsis [at] usda.gov
website: www.fsis.usda.gov
EMAIL BLOCK [includes all emails in this alert]
fdadockets [at] oc.fda.gov, andrew.voneschenbach [at] fda.hhs.gov, robert.brackett [at] fda.hhs.gov, david.acheson [at] fda.hhs.gov, denise.riley [at] fda.hhs.gov, leslye.fraser [at] fda.hhs.gov, robert.buchanan [at] fda.hhs.gov, thomas.cebula [at] fda.hhs.gov, Mike.Leavitt_G06 [at] hhs.gov, denise.schwarz [at] hhs.gov, FSIS.Labeling [at] usda.gov, NACMPI [at] fsis.usda.gov, FSISTechnology [at] usda.gov, FSIS.RegulationsComments [at] usda.gov, mphotline.fsis [at] usda.gov
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SAMPLE LETTER
Feel free to use portions of our letter, but add some original thoughts. Hundreds of identical letters may lessen impact.
BEFORE SENDING COMMENTS, DELETE ALL REFERENCES TO KINSHIP CIRCLE.
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Dear Sir/Madam:
Once again America’s network of food safety agencies sidesteps ethics in favor of economics. The Food and Drug Administration’s conclusion that food derived from cloned animals is identical to food from authentic livestock — and thus marketable — wholly discounts the well-being of cloned animals.
Please register my firm opposition to the FDA’s pending approval of saleable meat and milk from cloned animals and their offspring.
Many peer-reviewed studies show animals suffer significantly. Stillbirths and premature deaths account for substantial cloning failure rates. Surviving animals are commonly malformed with intestinal blockages, diabetes, contracted tendons, misshapen feet, and diminished immune systems. Cloned animals have malfunctioning hearts, brains, livers and kidneys. Some live with respiratory ailments or circulatory disorders.
In 1996, scientists cloned Dolly, a sheep whose untimely demise from lung disease prompted ethical questions. Since then, a 2003 analysis of cloning techniques in cows showed less than 5 percent of cloned embryos implanted into cows survived. Surrogate mothers endure fetal overgrowth, multiple injections and surgeries, and fatal pregnancies. As recently as June 2005, an FDA spokesperson disclosed that young cloned animals are more prone to birth defects and health complications.
The FDA disregards ample research that links cloning animals with more fatalities and deformities than other reproductive technologies, states Carol Tucker Foreman, director of food policy at the Consumer Federation of America.
Moreover, what is the point? A 2005 scientific review verified that cloning livestock does not discernibly boost agricultural efficiency. Consumers are not thrilled about the idea either. A Gallup poll finds 65% of Americans morally opposed to cloning animals and an industry survey reveals 62% are disinclined to purchase goods processed from cloned animals.
At the very least, regulatory agencies need to enforce a mandatory (not voluntary) moratorium on food items from cloned animals and institute compulsory rules for pre-market food safety and environmental impact of cloned foods. The FDA’s belief that cloned foods don’t require special labels is unacceptable. Consumers have a right to choose, based upon a product’s clearly labeled origin.
I strongly urge the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a federal oversight committee to counsel the FDA on ethical concerns related to animal cloning.
Thank you,
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Modeling Kinship Circle’s Vegan Goddess: SHAC 7 defendant Lauren Gazzola
SCROLL TO EMAIL END TO VISIT LAUREN’S SUPPORT SITE AND WRITE HER IN PRISON.
GET COOL CLOTHES – www.kinshipcircle.org/kinshiplace/
Kinship Circle is a nonprofit organization. Donations help us meet expenses for the literature, website, research and campaigns — that let YOU take action for animals. Please keep Kinship Circle in mind when you donate.
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info [at] kinshipcircle.org or kinshipcircle [at] brick.net
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Please use GoodSearch and select Kinship Circle as your designated cause.
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—–Original Message—–
From: Kinship Circle
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 11:34 AM
To: 7. KINSHIP CIRLE
Subject: LETTER/ Costco Brings Back Baby Seal Oil Capsules
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*DISCLAIMER: The information in these alerts is verified with the original source. Kinship Circle does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information or for the consequences of its use. Nothing in this email is intended to encourage illegal action in whatever country you are reading it in. Kinship Circle does not engage in, nor support, any form of harassment or unlawful activity. Nothing in this alert serves to promote such conduct.
*Kinship Circle cannot guarantee the validity of email addresses. During a campaign, recipients may change or disable their email addresses.
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Lauren Gazzola is an animal rights activist and political prisoner.
In March 2006, she and 6 codefendants were convicted on terrorism charges for (allegedly) running a website that encouraged and reported on protest activity against one of the world’s largest product testing labs, Huntingdon Life Sciences.
That’s right, terrorism – for running a website. Needless to say, the first amendment implications of the case are enormous and the defendants have high hopes for their appeal. In the meantime, they are sitting in federal prison, relying on those of us on the outside for support!
Visit www.SupportLauren.com to find out more about the case, Lauren, and what you can do to support her!
Visit www.SHAC7.com to learn more about Lauren’s codefendants!
Prison can be a boring, lonely place. Send Lauren letters and books (you may send paperbacks directly through the mail. Hardcovers must be sent from the distributor (amazon.com, AKpress.org, etc.) or directly from the store when you purchase a book) at:
Lauren Gazzola #93497-011
FCI Danbury
Route #37
33 1/2 Pembroke Road
Danbury, CT 06811
Also, Lauren will be writing a Blog from prison. Sign up to receive these monthly writings directly by clicking here: lists.riseup.net/www/info/laurensblog
If you know others who would like to subscribe to the list please send their email address to info [at] SupportLauren.com.
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Tagged: animals animal+rights action+alerts kinship+circle meat cloning cloned+meat fda cloned+animals
Filed under action alerts, animals as food, animals as research subjects, kinship circle, nonhuman animals
