Transgenesis in farm animals: ethical implications for public policy.
There is currently considerable investment in research aimed at producing transgenic farm animals with enhanced productive capacities. This article submits these prospective technologies to critical ethical evaluation. The analysis provided, focusing on issues relevant to public policy, suggests the need to introduce additional regulations governing the use of these technologies. Should their use be permitted in principle, specific legislation would seem to be required: (1) to protect the welfare of transgenic animals produced/kept in commercial enterprises; (2) to ensure the freedom of choice of purchasers of food and other products derived from transgenic animals by provision of adequate information on the source of the products; and (3) to provide a mechanism for limiting the use of transgenic technologies to those that are in the public interest.
Mepham
T Ben
TB
Centre for Applied Bioethics, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK.
D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000235:genetics; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D030841:Food, Genetically Modified / Q000009:adverse effects; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000941:ethics; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D011640:Public Policy; D018570:Risk Assessment