Government publishes human fertilisation and embryology bill

The government has announced the publication of the human fertilisation and embryology bill which aims to transform human embryology regulation in the UK to enable the country to continue to lead the world in the field of medical research.

However, the Department of Health notes that the bill will not change the basic foundations of existing law in this area, nor the model of regulation currently in place.

Included in the bill are provisions to ensure that all creation of human embryos outside the body are subject to regulation, a ban on sex selection of children for non-medical reasons and a removal of references to “the need for a father” while retaining a duty to consider “the welfare of the child”.

It also encompasses plans to recognise same-sex couples as legal parents of children, changes to restrictions on data to facilitate easier follow-up research and regulation of inter-species embryos.

Dawn Primarolo, health minister, said: “The UK is a world leader and a good place to do research.

“This bill will allow legitimate medical and scientific use of human reproductive technologies for research to flourish in this country, while giving the public confidence that they are being used and developed sensibly with appropriate controls in place.”

She added that this bill will provide increased clarity and assurance to the general public, in addition to patients, researchers and medical staff.

In May 2007, the government announced plans to replace the Human Tissue Authority and Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority with the Regulatory Authority for Tissue and Embryos.