The provision of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, in the national health service and the independent sector, has been regulated under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 since 1 August 1991. No assessment has been made of the changes to the cost of IVF following the introduction of the Act.
On 5 July 2007, the Act was amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Quality and Safety) Regulations 2007, to bring the provisions of the European Union directive on the safety and quality of human tissues and cells for human application fully into force in respect of gametes and embryos. The regulations require establishments providing IVF to meet environmental and practice standards intended to ensure that only safe, high quality tissue is used in a patient's treatment.
While many of the provisions in the directive mirrored existing requirements in the 1990 Act and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's code of practice, IVF clinics are likely to incur some costs in meeting the standards, although costs are likely to vary significantly between establishments. The regulatory impact assessment (RIA), prepared for the implementation of the directive, commented on potential costs to the fertility sector of complying with the standards. A copy of the RIA is available in the Library.