• Mitochondria public consultation 2012
• National Donation Strategy Group
• Multiple births after IVF
• Past reviews
  • Genetic testing
  • Embryo research
  • Fees and regulation
    • Are you ready?
      • New arrangements for the storage of gametes & embryos
      • Get ready - 8th Code of Practice, consent forms and Directions
      • New parenthood laws
      • Compliance cycle
      • Information access for donor-conceived people donors
      • Use of embryos for training
      • Embryo testing
      • Using patient data to help improve fertility treatment
      • Choose a Fertility Clinic
      • Clinic staff portal
      • Persons Responsible Entry Program (PREP)
      • New licences for clinics
    • 7th Code of Practice
    • Standards for Assisted Conception Centres
    • Modernisation of regulation and the new fee strategy
    • Annual fees for licensed centres (EUTCD)
    • Research fees
    • Public attitudes to regulation
  • Risks of treatment
  • Clinical safety
  • Donation

The storage period can be extended for up to a further 5 years or up to the patient’s or one of the gamete provider’s 55th birthday, provided that conditions outlined in the 1996 regulations are met and the gamete providers consent to this extended storage.

After 1 October it will be possible to extend embryo storage up to a maximum of 55 years, providing that every 10 years the centre obtains a written opinion from a registered medical practitioner that the ‘relevant person’ is or is likely to become prematurely infertile.

The relevant person is one of the gamete providers, the person to be treated or the person to whom the gametes have been allocated. This written opinion can be obtained at any point during the initial 10-year storage period and the embryos can then be stored for a further 10 years from the date the opinion was obtained.

The embryo storage period can be extended for further 10-year periods if further written opinions are provided.

Gamete providers who have consented to embryo storage under the pre-1 October 2009 law (ie, for 5 years or extension to 10 years or 55th birthday) do not need to renew their consent until the end of the initial consent period is reached and they do not need to opt into the new legislation if they do not wish to.

Consent forms
If patients consent to extension of embryo storage before 1 October 2009 (for extension under the1996 regulations) they should complete section 4 of the MT form and section 5 of the WT form.

If donors consent to extension of embryo storage before 1 October 2009 (for extension under the 1996 regulations) they should complete section 4 of the MD form and section 3 of the WD form.

• Consent forms

Medical practitioner’s statement
If the storage period is extended before 1 October 2009 (for extension under the 1996 regulations) then the medical practitioner will need to complete the ES form.

 

Back to new arrangements for storage home

Page last updated: 11 September 2009

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