The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave preliminary approval Thursday to meat and milk from cloned animals or their offspring. Federal scientists found virtually no difference between food from clones and food from conventional livestock.

Australia has a voluntary moratorium on cloned animals and their offspring entering the food chain, but the issue is under government review.

Government regulator Food Standards Australia New Zealand, or FSANZ, said Friday the review committee would consider the same scientific evidence the FDA used to make its draft ruling that milk and meat from cloned cattle, pigs and goats were safe to consume.

The committee is already consulting with the FDA, and with authorities in New Zealand, Canada and Japan.

Source: Associated Press via Hoovers