HFEA publishes thirteenth Annual Report and Accounts
25 November 2004
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has published its thirteenth Annual Report and Accounts which were laid before Parliament.
The report reflects on a very significant 12 month period, during which key regulation improvements, policy reviews and continuing modernisation of the organisation were made. It also looks forward to meeting future challenges and achieving clearly defined goals.
Notably the HFEA strengthened its commitment to ensuring very high standards of practice in clinics. The inspection process has been streamlined, unannounced inspections have been introduced and new guidance about adding alarm systems to storage vessels, used to freeze sperm, eggs and embryos was issued. A new alert system to report incidents in clinics is now firmly in place.
Presenting the report, Chief Executive Angela McNab said:
"As an organisation, we have undergone substantial modernisation over the past year, which has resulted in a more effective performance, greater transparency and improved communications with our stakeholders and the public".
Looking to the future and the need to remain efficient, focused and responsive in the increasingly complex world of reproductive technology, a five-year Corporate Plan has been developed, which consists of seven strategic goals, outlined in the report.
Developments on the horizon include the European Union Tissue Directive, the creation of the Human Tissue Authority and the lifting of donor anonymity. The HFEA will also be contributing to the review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 and continue to provide information to the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee's report on reproductive technology, which will have an important role in shaping the organisation's future.
The HFEA's latest Annual Report covers the Authority's work from 31 August 2003 to 31 August 2004.
Ends
Notes to editors
Copies of the HFEA's Thirteenth Annual Report and Accounts are available on the HFEA website.
The HFEA was set up in August 1991 as part of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. The HFEA's principal tasks are to license and monitor clinics that carry out in vitro fertilisation (IVF), donor insemination (DI) and human embryo research. The HFEA also regulates the storage of gametes (eggs and sperm) and embryos.
For further information please contact the HFEA press office.
Page last updated: 12 March 2009
The HFEA operates within a fast-moving, complex and ethically challenging area