New guidelines aimed at regulating the production of genetically-modified animals destined for human consumption have been issued by regulatory authorities in the US.

The guidelines aim to set out clearly how the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) intends to regulate meat, diary products and other foods which originate from genetically-modified animals.

The draft rules, which seek to address concerns about such products dubbed "frankenfoods," will be opened up to public and professional comments for the next 60 days before coming into effect.

"Genetically engineered animals hold great promise for improving human medicine, agriculture, the environment and the production of new materials," said deputy commissioner Randall Lutter.

"The FDA has long been involved in their scientific evaluation," Lutter said. "Our guidance provides a framework for both GE animals and products made from them to reach the market."

But consumer protection organizations condemned the draft rules, noting that the FDA was not imposing a labelling system to say where the products originate from.

"It is incomprehensible to us that FDA does not view these animals differently from their conventional counterparts," said Jean Halloran from the Consumers Union.

"In our view, consumers have a right to know if the ham, bacon or pork they are buying come from pigs that have been engineered with mouse genes."

Michael Hansen, also from the Consumers Union, said animals that have been genetically engineered can contain genes from completely different species.