Changes to legislation 1991-2004
Much of the content of the 1990 legislation remained until the HFE Act 2008 came into place. However, in this period additional regulations and European legislation had an impact on the way the fertility and embryology sector is regulated in the UK.
Regulations
In 1991, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Statutory Storage Period) Regulations 1991/1540, allowed storage periods for eggs and sperm to be extended in certain circumstances.
In the same year, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemptions) Regulations 1991/1588 regarding the HFEA’s licence committee and appeals structure were set out.
In 1996, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Statutory Storage Period for Embryos) Regulations 1996/375 allowed the storage periods for embryos to be extended in certain circumstances.
In 2001, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001/188 extended the purposes for which embryo research could be licensed to include “increasing knowledge about the development of embryos”, “increasing knowledge about serious disease”, and “enabling any such knowledge to be applied in developing treatments for serious disease”. These changes paved the way for embryonic stem cell research.
In 2004, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (Disclosure of Donor Information) Regulations 2004/1511, enabled donor-conceived children to access the identity of their sperm, egg or embryo donor upon reaching the age of 18.
Page last updated: 26 March 2009
