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A summary of the meeting of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in November 1999

At this meeting the Chairman informed Members of four new appointments to the Authority: Sue Avery; Peter Braude; Francoise Shenfield; and Lis Woods.

The Chairman reported on the meeting that she, the Deputy Chairman and the Chief Executive had attended with the new Minister for Public Health, Yvette Cooper. A number of topics had been raised at that meeting including the relationship between the Department and the HFEA and the establishment of the new Human Genetics Commission.

At this meeting the Deputy Chairman advised the Authority of an immediate change to the Code of Practice (paragraph 7.6) in relation to home insemination. As a result of this change centres would no longer be allowed to use a dry shipper or any other containment vessel that would keep the sperm in a frozen or preserved state after leaving the licensed centre.

The Authority discussed the report of the meeting of the Working Group on the Safe Cryopreservation of Gametes and Embryos. This meeting considered the responses received to three specific areas - the risk of contamination; screening and quarantining; and the technical aspects of storage. Members agreed with the recommendation that clinics should screen all patients who wished to place samples in storage. In addition, it was decided that screened and unscreened samples should be kept in separate vessels.

These recommendations were referred to the Code of Practice Committee for implementation as well as suggested amendments to the Code. In connection with this Members noted that various professional bodies had agreed to take forward other issues concerned with sampling, screening, secondary containment and the installation of alarms. Members also concluded that the recommended research proposals outlined in the report should be communicated to the Department.

Page last updated: 20 January 2011

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