Our role to provide guidance and advice
The HFEA provides authoritative information for the public, in particular for people seeking treatment, donor-conceived people and donors.
We also determine the policy framework for fertility issues, which are sometimes ethically and clinically complex.
Our responsibilities in providing guidance and advice are to:
- investigate serious adverse incidents and reactions and to keep a register of serious adverse incidents and serious adverse reactions
- produce and maintain a Code of Practice, providing guidelines to clinics and research establishments about the proper conduct of licensed activities
- maintain a formal register of information about donors, licensed treatments and children born as a result of those treatments
- publicise the HFEA’s role and provide relevant advice and information to donor-conceived people, donors, clinics, research establishments and patients, including servicing the statutory right of access to register information
- review information about:
- human embryos and developments in research involving human embryos
- the provision of treatment services and activities governed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Acts 1990 and 2008
- advise the Secretary of State for Health on developments in the above fields where appropriate.
Further information:
HFEA Standing Orders
The HFEA Standing Orders descibe, in detail, the function and responsibility of the HFEA and its Authority members.
For a full and detailed look at how we operate, download our Standing Orders:
- Standing Orders (508 Kb)
Page last updated: 26 September 2013
