The State Duma has renewed a temporary ban on human cloning in Russia, Interfax reported Wednesday.

The bill, approved in a third and final reading Wednesday, sets a ban on cloning until a federal law can be enacted to regulate the cloning of humans, the report said.

The bill allows the cloning of nonhuman cells, like flowers, for scientific purposes.

The previous ban was implemented in 2002 but expired in June 2007.

Deputy Health and Social Development Minister Yury Voronin has warned that the absence of a ban might make Russia a destination for foreign scientists eager to conduct human cloning experiments.

(MT)