FAQs about the HFEA

• Why was the HFEA set up?
• What is the role of the HFEA?
• What are the HFEA's licensing responsibilities?
• What treatments are licensed by the HFEA?
• What does the HFEA not do?
• How are HFEA Members appointed?
• What is the HFEA Code of Practice? 
• What is the HFEA Register?

Why was the HFEA set up?
The first statutory body of its type in the world, the HFEA's creation reflected public and professional interest in the potential future of human embryo research and assisted reproduction treatment.  The recommendation for such a regulatory body had come from the 1984 report of the Committee of Inquiry into Human Fertilisation and Embryology (the Warnock Report).  The HFEA was established in August 1991 following the passing of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (HFE Act).
 
What is the role of the HFEA?

• To licence and monitor fertility clinics that carry out in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and donor insemination
• To licence and monitor centres undertaking human embryo research
• To licence and monitor the storage of gametes and embryos
• To produce a Code of Practice which gives guidelines to clinics about the proper conduct of HFEA licensed activities
• To maintain a formal register of information about donors, fertility treatments and children born as a result of those treatments
• To provide relevant advice and information to patients, donors and clinics
• To review information about human embryos, the provision of treatment services and activities governed by the HFE Act. 
• To monitor any subsequent developments in this area and where appropriate, advise the Secretary of State for Health on developments in these fields
   

What are the HFEA's licensing responsibilities?

• To issue treatment, storage and research licences to centres
• To define and promote good clinical practice and high 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
   

What treatments are licensed by the HFEA?

• Donor Insemination (DI)
• In Vitro Fertilisation  (IVF)
• In Vitro Fertilisation (with donor eggs)
• In Vitro Fertilisation (with donor sperm)
• Intrauterine insemination (IUI) (with partner and donor sperm)
• Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer (GIFT) (with donor and partner sperm and eggs)
• GIFT (with donor sperm)
• Zygote Intra Fallopian Transfer
• Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
• Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (with donor sperm)
• Sub Zonal Insemination
• Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
• Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS)  for Aneuploidy
• Assisted Hatching (chemical)
• Assisted Hatching (mechanical)
• Assisted Hatching (laser)
• Zona Drilling
• Partial Zona Dissection 
• Storage of Sperm
• Storage of Eggs
• Storage of Embryos 
• Storage of Sperm within Testicular Tissue 
• Storage of Eggs within Ovarian Tissue
• Egg Sharing
• Embryo Transfer (special cases)

What does the HFEA not do?

• It is not a pressure group
• It does not regulate all infertility treatments
• It is not an ombudsman
• It is not involved in funding for treatment
• It is not a research body

How are HFEA Members appointed?
HFEA Members are appointed by UK Health Ministers in accordance with the guidance from the Commissioner for Public Appointments (the ?Nolan' Guidelines). The Members decide on HFEA policies and review treatment and research licence applications. To ensure that the HFEA has an objective and independent view, the HFE Act requires that the Chair, Deputy Chair and at least half of the HFEA Members are neither doctors nor scientists involved in human embryo research or providing infertility treatment. HFEA Members bring to the HFEA a broad range of expertise, from medicine to law and religion to philosophy. 
 
What is the HFEA Code of Practice?
The HFEA has a statutory duty under the HFE Act to produce a Code of Practice that gives guidelines to clinics about the proper conduct of HFEA licensed activities. This Code of Practice is regularly reviewed and amended to keep up to date with rapidly changing clinical and other practice in the field of assisted reproduction and research.

The Code of Practice is designed for use by service providers and research centres, but also gives guidance that patients may find of interest. 
 
What is the HFEA Register?
The HFEA has a statutory duty to collect information about licensed treatments and their outcomes, and maintains a Register of information compiled from data provided by licensed clinics. Find out more about the HFEA Register