International Embryo Transfer Society
1800 South Oak Street, Suite 100
Ref. Ares(2015)2942084 - 13/07/2015
Champaign, IL 61820 USA
Phone: (217) 398-4697, FAX: (217) 398-4119
E-mail: xxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx, Web Site: http://www.iets.org
2011 Board of Governors
February, 09, 2012
, DVM, PhD, DVSc
To
President
Commissaire, Monsieur J. DALLI
Aarhus University
Faculty of Ag Sciences
Commissaire européen charge de la santé et de la protection des concommateurs
Section for Reproductive Biology
Commission européenne
DK-8830 TJELE
B-1049 Bruxelles, Belgique
DENMARK
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
@agrsci dk
The International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS, www.iets.org) is a group of approx. 900 scientists from
approx. 35 countries around the world. As described in the IETS By-Laws (enclosed), the society's main
, DVM, MvetSc, PhD
Immediate Past President
purposes are to “further the science of embryo production, development and transfer by: (1) promoting
Instituto de Reproducción Animal Córdoba (IRAC) more effective research; (2) disseminating scientific and educational information; (3) fostering high
Córdoba, Argentina
standards of education; (4) maintaining high standards of ethics; (5) enhancing the international
Phone: +
Email:
@iracbiogen com ar
movement of animal genetics with embryos; (6) coordinating standardization of embryo handling and
record procedures internationally; (7) cooperating with other organizations having similar objectives“.
, PhD
Vice President
University of Florida
These purposes are achieved first of all through an IETS annual conference that is held in January each
Department of Animal Sciences
year since 1976, and where generally 400 to 500 participants attend, from academia, farm animal
Gainesville, FL
industry and other interested groups. To focus the IETS activities in areas of particular importance, a
Phone:
number of Standing Committees have been appointed - one of which being called HASAC (Health And
Fax:
Email:
@animal ufl edu
SAfety Committee), which maintains a strong link between the IETS and e.g. the OIE (World Organisation
for Animal Health).
, PhD
Treasurer
University of Illinois
Over the last decade, an increasing portion of the scientific communications presented at the IETS annual
Dept of Animal Sciences
conferences (as main speakers, short presentations and poster presentations) has been related to the
Urbana, IL
technique of nuclear transfer (“cloning”) in various animal species. This trend illustrates not only
Phone:
Fax:
scientific interest in this biologically, technologically and ethically challenging area, but also growing
Email:
@illinois edu
interest in this field from people in a variety of industry and other groups.
, DVM, MS, PhD, Diplomate ACT
One result of these activities has been a growing body of knowledge based on scientific reports from the
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University of Saskatchewan
conferences and from the scientific literature in general. These data are compiled through HASAC, and
Western College of Vet Medicine
the IETS contribution to this field that has been recognized by international food safety agencies such as
Saskatoon, SK
the US Food and Drug Administration when working on the risk assessment for products derived from
CANADA
Phone:
clones. Members of IETS have also been involved as experts to advise the European Food Safety Agency.
Fax:
Indeed, a considerable body of evidence has been gathered through scientific studies that indicates that
Email:
@usask ca
the chemical composition of the edible parts and products derived from clones and the offspring of clones
, PhD
falls within limits considered to be normal and are therefore safe for human consumption (Chapter 12 of
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IETS manual).
L’Alliance Boviteq
19320 Grand Rang St Francois
To make a clear standpoint on the issue of safety of products from clones and offspring of clones, the
St Hyacinthe, PQ, J2T 5H1
Canada
Board of Governors of the IETS acted in January 2012 to present their view on this topic by issuing a
Phone
Position Statement posted on the IETS website. The statement, which contains a scientific conclusion
Fax:
and the basis for that conclusion, is as follows: “Based on the scientific evidence, and based on the
Email:
@boviteq com
conclusion of the European Food Safety Agency and the US FDA that there is no scientifically proven
, DVM, PhD, HDR
safety concern for food derived from clones and offspring of clones and their products, there is no
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necessity to label products from clones or offspring of clones".
INRA
Jouy En Josas, Yvelines, FRANCE
Phone:
However, some concerns have been raised regarding the welfare of the animals with regard to physical
Fax:
abnormalities resulting from the technologies used to produce cloned animals. The IETS Manual has
Email:
@jouy inra fr
recommended a set of guidelines based on the experience and scientific knowledge of the research teams
, PhD
producing and raising cloned animals which can lower the incidence of neonatal concerns and addresses
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the welfare concerns to a significant extent (Chapter 10. Health care and well being of animal clones,
Rakuno Gakuen University
IETS Manual 4th edition).
582 Bunkyodai Midori-machi
Ebetsu, Hokkaido, 069-8501
Japan
Moreover, recent research indicates that important elements affecting the incidence of abortions,
Phone:
neonatal and early deaths appear to be the selection and treatment of donor cells and ooplasms at the
Fax:
Email:
@rakuno ac jp
time of reconstruction.
, PhD
In order to bring the incidence of pathological events down to closer to that experienced during normal
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animal reproduction, more research and experience both in the cloning process and in the veterinary care
Agricultural Research Council (ARC)
Irene, Pretoria
is to be encouraged. This research is performed throughout the world and can be pursued in Europe only
SOUTH AFRICA
if the cloning procedure continues to be allowed in the European community.
Phone:
Fax:
Email
@arc agric za
IETS Board of Governors
and
IETS Hasac chair
Champaign, IL
Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:
@assochq org