USAHA News
United States Animal Health Association
Contact:  Larry Mark - (703) 451-3954 - ldmark@erols.com


For immediate release:

REGULATORY STRUCTURE NEEDED FOR TRANSGENIC ANIMALS

	MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. Oct. 17, 2006 -- The need to develop a regulatory 
structure for transgenic animals and products derived from those animals 
highlighted discussions at the meeting of the U.S. Animal Health 
Association (USAHA) Committee on Biologics and Biotechnology here this week.

	Committee chair Robert Tully of Lenoxa, Kans., said that USDA’s Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is currently working on such a 
structure and how it would fit into the existing regulatory setup.  He said 
APHIS will be getting input from state animal health officials and stakeholders.

	“There are moral, ethical and environmental issues involved,” Tully said, 
“and these issues received a lot of attention. We also discussed the potential 
positive contribution this technology might make to human and animal health.”

	Funding for 2007 and 2008 for the new APHIS Center for Veterinary Biologics 
in Ames, Iowa, also received considerable discussion.  The Committee called for 
adequate funding for operational costs, including personnel, equipment and supplies, 
as the National Center for Animal Health there is being brought on line.  

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