The UK's Food Standards Agency said yesterday it would investigate reports that milk from the offspring of a cloned cow has gone on sale in the country.

An anonymous UK farmer told the International Herald Tribune he was producing milk from a cow bred from a clone as part of his daily milk output.

The farmer requested anonymity for fear of buyers no longer taking his milk, the newspaper said.

The EU said two years ago that there was "no clear evidence" of any difference in safety between products from cloned or conventionally-bred animals.

However, products from clones and their offspring are deemed to be novel foods and as such need to secure regulatory approval before going on sale.

The FSA said it had not received any applications for products from cloned animals.

Nevertheless, it added: "The agency will, of course, investigate any reports of unauthorised novel foods entering the food chain."

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