The Government’s policy proposals following their review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 were published on 14 December 2006 in the Command Paper “Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act: Proposals for revised legislation (including establishment of the Regulatory Authority for Tissue and Embryos)”. Copies are available in the Library (Cm 6989). The proposals will form the basis for a bill, to be published in draft, for pre-legislative scrutiny.
Revised legislation will clarify the extent to which the law applies to embryos combining human and animal material. We have proposed that the creation of hybrid and chimera embryos in vitro should not be allowed, in general, while at the same time recognising that there may be valuable avenues of scientific research in this area by the provision of a secondary legislative power to makes exceptions subject to licensing.
The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee is in the process of conducting an inquiry into the Government’s proposals for the regulation of hybrid and chimera embryos, and the Government will study carefully any recommendations arising.