Government publishes tissue and embryos bill

The Department of Health has announced the publication of a draft government bill concerning the use of human tissues and embryos that suggests a radical transformation on existing legislation relating to embryo research and assisted human reproduction.

Proposals included in the bill – part of a government command paper – are precise rules regarding embryo screening, a ban on sex-selection by prospective parents for non-medical reasons and increased scope for medical research using embryos.

The bill also includes details of the planned regulatory body overseeing these issues – the Regulatory Authority for Tissue and Embryos – that will replace the current Human Tissue Authority and Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

Caroline Flint, public health minister, said: “Our aim in drafting this bill is to deliver a legislative framework that will allow legitimate medical and scientific uses of human reproductive technologies to continue to flourish in this country, while giving the public confidence in how they are being used and developed.”

She added that the government had widely consulted with parties with an interest in these issues in order to gain a broad range of opinion on these matters, with the government seeking to guarantee improved confidence and transparency for researchers, healthcare providers, patients and the general public.

In July 2006, the European parliament approved continued funding for embryonic stem cell research in the European Union following an attempt from a German-led group to ban financial support for this practice through the EU science programme.