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A summary of the one hundred and tenth meeting of the
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on 27 July 2001

Matters arising from the minutes of the June Authority meeting

The Chairman informed Members that following the June meeting of the Authority, Morgan Cole wrote to Rowe and Maw setting out the reasons for the Authority's advice on the question of transferring >3 embryos. The case was currently awaiting consideration in the Court of Appeal. Draft guidance on the licensing of aneuploidy had been circulated and was considered by Members.

Chairman's Business

The Chairman suggested that specific aspects of the ethical dilemmas surrounding the use of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis for tissue typing should be considered by the Ethics Committee who should subsequently bring their recommendations to the Authority for consideration.

Public Response to the PGD Consultation

Members were presented with the basis of a public response from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Human Genetics Commission to the 1999 pre-implantation genetic diagnosis consultation. A number of concerns were expressed about some details contained within the report, but Members agreed that the report should be noted and forwarded to the Human Genetics Commission with a proposed joint public response.

Guidance for the Licensing of Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis

This paper outlined a series of proposed amendments put forward by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Human Genetics Commission joint working party that had been drafted to strengthen the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority 's interim licensing guidance for pre-implantation genetic diagnosis.

It was agreed that the Chairman should write on behalf of the HFEA thanking the joint working party for their input, and that the proposed amendments should be referred to the LFC for detailed consideration.

The Tenth HFEA Annual Report 2001

A draft copy of this year's Annual Report had been circulated to Members. Members asked for some minor amendments. Members agreed that the Chairman should approve any further substantive changes that were necessary including any changes in HFEA policies that required updating. Members noted that, subject to Ministerial approval, the report would be published in the Autumn

The Business and Corporate Plan and Quinquennial Review Response

Members approved a series of changes to the Business and Corporate Plan and the QQR response reflecting the new draft timetable and target dates for future activities. Members noted that the new Business plan reflected a more costly operation and further funds had been applied for to cover these costs.

Chief Executive's Business

The Chief Executive brought a number of issues to Members' attention including a new system of billing that was being devised and informed them that proposals would be presented to them in the autumn for implementation by the next financial year; registry staff members were in the process of verifying the data for this year's annual report and patients' guide; the plans for the external consultants appointed by the Department of Health to work with members of the Executive to meet the requirements for greater Quality Assurance and Risk Management

The Chief Executive reported on key events that included the hosting of a meeting to discuss ICSI and discussions with the Medical Research Council on the creation of an embryonic stem cell bank.

The Chief Executive reported on work to secure new accommodation for the HFEA. A number of sites had been identified for more in depth analysis.

Reports from Committees and Working Groups

Reports were presented from the Licensing and Fees Committee, the Organisation and Finance Committee, the Audit Committee, the Working Group for New Developments in Reproductive Technology, the Code of Practice Committee, the Spring Regional Meeting and the Storage Centres' meeting.

The Licensing and Fees Committee reported on the use of overnight couriers to transport cryopreserved gametes or embryos between licensed centres; a review of inspections carried out at research centres; in vitro maturation of oocytes and use in treatment. The OFC reported on discussions on staff pay awards; draft annual accounts; review of performance indicators; update of the business and corporate plans and options for changes to the billing system.

The AC reported on discussions about the annual report from KPMG; provisional internal audit plan from the HFEA's internal auditors; draft annual accounts; a progress report on the systems and data audit and aged debtors report.

The WGNDRT reported on discussions about assisted hatching and monozygotic twinning rates; transmission risk in media used in Assisted Reproductive Technology; the use of laser assisted hatching and prospective National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit studies.

The CoPC reported on discussions about the format of the next edition of the Code of Practice; clinical governance and disclosure of confidential information.

Topics discussed at the London Regional meeting and the Storage Centres' meeting included the involvement of patients in the HFEA; donor anonymity; HFEA information provision; aneuploidy screening; embryo transfer levels; egg freezing; inspections; statutory storage period; safe cryopreservation and screening; liquid verses vapour stage storage; cleaning cryostorage vessels; training of MLSOs and consent.

Any Other Business

Members approved the response to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics' Consultation on Genetics and Human Behaviour that had been prepared by the Ethics Committee.

Date of Next Meeting

The date of the next meeting of the Authority is Friday 28th September 2001 at 2pm.

Page last updated: 24 October 2011

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