Human Fertilisation and Embryology: The New Law

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 represents the most radical overhaul of the UK's embryology laws since the enactment of the original 1990 Act and is intended to ensure that the UK legislative framework keeps up with the fast pace of technological, social, and medical change. The new Act is a comprehensive amending statute which makes considerable changes to the operation of both the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 and regulation in the area of assisted reproductive technology and embryo research. Major provisions contained in the Act include: extending UK regulation to the creation and use of all embryos outside of the human body, regardless of the processes used in their creation increasing the scope of legitimate embryo research activities, allowing hybrid embryos to be created for research into serious diseases enforcing a ban on sex selection of offspring for non-medical reasons retention of a duty, when providing fertility treatment, to take accou