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17 June 2011

Summary of request

The Authority was asked for information as to whether any HFEA licensed clinic in the UK has imported embryos from Israel, ie, the necessary import regulations have been complied with.

 Summary of response

To import gametes or embryos from a centre based in a country outside the European Economic Area (such as Israel) to a UK clinic, the UK clinic must organise this on the patient’s behalf and notify the HFEA. Before the UK clinic can accept imported embryos, the clinic must ensure that the non-EEA centre complies with the requirements set out in the General Directions: Directions D2008.3 (link: http://www.hfea.gov.uk/docs/D2008_3.pdf ). If the clinic meets the conditions set out in the General Directions then the import of the embryos will fall under the clinic's General Licence. The clinic will then only need to notify the HFEA of the import, no later than five days after the transport has taken place.

However, if a clinic wished to import the embryos, and the requirements set out in the Directions were not met, they could try to apply for special permission (Special Directions) from the HFEA to allow for the import to take place. This process would therefore take longer because the UK licensed clinic would need to apply for this and the applications would be considered by an HFEA Licence committee.

If a patient wishes to import embryos from Israel we would therefore recommend discussing the issue with their clinic based in the UK who would need to organise this on theirr behalf and ensure that the necessary requirements have been met before the import takes place. For further information on imports and exports please see the following page of our website: http://www.hfea.gov.uk/82.html  

The current system described above for importing sperm, eggs and embryos to the UK came into force relatively recently, in October 2009, and although a search of our readily available records (covering the period 1996 to date) show no instances of embryos being imported by a UK clinic from Israel I would not suggest this is an indication that importation of embryos would not be possible and if a patient wishes to do so I would recommend the above advice.

Page last updated: 16 August 2012

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