Code of Practice 7th edition public consultation - closed

Both sections of the Code, the Standards and Guidance, are now available in draft form for viewing and comment ? please see the links at the foot of this document or phone 020 7291 8200 for a free copy.

The Standards was first published in April this year to give centres as much time as possible to get used to the new approach before the implementation of the EU Directive makes it mandatory in April 2007.  A second draft is shortly to be published along with the guidance, taking into account comments received to date.

The Guidance, which incorporates and updates much of what was in the previous Code of Practice, is now published alongside the Standards for the first time.

The two documents should be read in conjunction.  Version 2 of the Standards ? to be published shortly ? now incorporates cross-references to relevant sections of the Guidance.  In practice, it is expected that users will first find the standard which is applicable to the activity they are carrying out and then follow links or references to the guidance, which informs them how to ensure conformity with the standard.

Users and other interested groups and individuals are invited to comment.  Comments are particularly welcome in four main areas:

1. The specific content of the Standards
2. The specific content of the Guidance
3. The overall arrangement of the Code (Standards + Guidance) and proposals for delivery (see above)
4. The anticipated impact of the revised Code (see Regulatory and Equality Impact assessments).

Please note that comments relating to legislation (of either European or domestic origin) or to necessary corollaries of such legislation cannot be taken further by the HFEA owing to the limited nature of the Authority's powers and remit.

Comments should be sent:
by email to: code@hfea.gov.uk
by post to:  Code of Practice Consultation
 HFEA
 21 Bloomsbury Street
 London WC1B 3HF

This consultation closed on the 12 December 2006.

Guidance (340Kb)
Division II of the 7th edition of the HFEA Code of Practice for consultation

Standards - Division I of the 7th edition of the HFEA Code of Practice (open for comment since April 2006)

Additional standards (43 Kb)
Supplementary standards to be incorporated into version 2 of the HFEA standards

Guidance audit (110 Kb)
Record of proposals for transposition of guidance from 6th edition of the Code of Practice into 7th edition (110 Kb)

Regulatory impact assessment (56 Kb)

Equality impact assessment (30Kb)