FAWC welcomes the opportunity to submit evidence to the Select Committee regarding the welfare implications of developments in biotechnology controlled under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and the application of such developments in commercial farming.

Because this is such a broad and rapidly developing subject, the following should be considered as a summary of FAWC's main areas of concern, rather than an exhaustive list of every area that FAWC would like the committee to consider. Indeed, such is the pace of developments within this field that it is often challenging to keep abreast with advances.

We have not included those techniques that were examined in detail in the Banner Report of 1994 and in the FAWC Cloning Report of 1998; although these are also relevant. Nevertheless, we also include a copy of our Cloning Report for completeness.

These views have also been submitted to the Sub-Group on Animals and Biotechnology of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC). I would be happy to arrange for a representative group of FAWC Council members to present oral evidence to the Select Committee if that should be your wish.