What kind of regulator are we

We are the UK's independent regulator overseeing the use of gametes and embryos in fertility treatment, storage and research
We licence centres carrying out In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), other assisted conception procedures and human embryo research, and provide a range of detailed information for patients, professionals, the public and Government
1 in 7 people in the UK will have some problem conceiving (this equates to approximately 1.75 million couples of reproductive age - or 3.5 million people in total)
About 80% of UK patients fund their own treatment.
There are 139 HFEA licensed treatment, storage and research establishments in the UK.

licence and monitor fertility clinics that carry out treatments
licence and monitor centres undertaking human embryo research
licence and monitor the storage of gametes and embryos
produce a Code of Practice covering the proper conduct of HFEA licensed activities
maintain a Register of information about donors, fertility treatments and their outcomes
provide relevant advice and information to patients, donors and clinics
review information about human embryos, the provision of treatment services and activities governed by the HFE Act (1990)

a pressure group - our role is to implement the legislative framework decided by Parliament
responsible for regulating all infertility treatments
responsible for regulating individual clinical practice - that is a matter for the professional bodies and, ultimately, the GMC or NMC
an ombudsman
involved in funding or financial regulation - NHS provision and treatment costs are not in our remit
a research body

71% of people believe that HFEA provides adequate ethical scrutiny of fertility treatment (Mori, 2005)
Public opinion is very finely balanced on human embryo research with firm and independent regulation a key driver of public confidence in this area
56% of people believe that human embryo research should be allowed. 22% believe it should not (source - ICM, 2007) - However if a purpose is explicitly defined, support rises:
- 79% support the use of human embryos in research to find out more about diseases such as Parkinson's or Motor Neurone Disease (MND)
- 35% of people support the use of cytoplasmic hybrid embryos in research - rising to 61% if used for research into Parkinson´s or MND

To issue treatment, storage and research licences to centres
To help promote good clinical practice and ethical standards
To ensure clinics comply with the requirements of the 1990 HFE Act and the European Tissues and Cells Directive.
To renew licences on an annual basis

We currently licence 19 types of treatment - these include:

There are currently 31 HFEA research licensed projects
HFEA licence committees consider each application on a case-by-case basis
The criteria for licensing includes:
- legality (is it within the scope of the HFE Act?)
- necessity (is there an alternative method and is the use of embryos necessary?)
- desirability (will it advance scientific knowledge?)
Human embryos cannot be cultured beyond 14 days or implanted into a woman's uterus
If an application is approved we continue to scrutinise the research projects through regular monitoring and inspection of research progress and facilities
We invite public comments on every research application submitted before they are considered by a licence committee - applicants have to provide a lay-friendly explanation of their proposed research
When materially new research is proposed (e.g. using human eggs or hybrid embryos for research) we have conducted public consultations to establish an evidence base to support our policy-making

Last updated: 20 May 2008