Skip to main content
Join the Patient Engagement Forum.Share your experiences by joining our Patient Engagement Forum.

New Regulations on importing gametes or embryos from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Gibraltar.

On 17th April 2018, we implemented a new EU Directive on the importation of sperm and eggs (“gametes”), and embryos, from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Gibraltar. 

This EU Directive, which does not apply to imports from other EEA countries, was developed to ensure the quality and safety of tissues and cells being imported into the UK from a “third country supplier” – defined as any country that is outside of the EU, EEA and Gibraltar.

In relation to IVF, this means that imported gametes or embryos for a patient’s treatment must meet UK safety and quality standards around the testing, transportation and procurement of gametes.

In practice, this means that a clinic wishing to import from a third country supplier will need to apply to the HFEA for a certificate. As part of this process, the UK clinic will need to provide documents that guarantee the third country supplier meets UK quality and safety standards. If a clinic imports gametes or embryos without this certificate they will be non-compliant.

Because of the new procedure that is in place, there may be a delay in processing your application.  If all the correct information is supplied by your clinic, then the application should be processed within 2 – 3 months.

We apologise for any delay to your treatment during this transitional period, and are doing all we can to process applications as quickly as possible.

If you are unsure of what these new rules mean for your treatment, we suggest that you speak with your clinic first. If you have further questions after that you can contact us at: enquiriesteam@hfea.gov.uk.

 

Clinics approved to import from third country suppliers

Centre

Tissues/Cells to be imported

Third country supplier

Andrology Solutions

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Bath Fertility Centre

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Barts Health Centre for Reproductive Medicine

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Barts Health Centre for Reproductive Medicine

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Boston Place

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Bourn Hall Clinic

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

Bourn Hall Clinic

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

Bourn Hall Clinic

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Bourn Hall (Norwich) Limited

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

Bourn Hall (Norwich) Limited

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Bourn Hall Clinic (Wickford)

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

Bourn Hall Clinic (Wickford)

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Cambridge IVF

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Cambridge IVF

Oocyte

Xytex Cryo International

CARE Bath

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

CARE Fertility Birmingham

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

CARE Fertility Birmingham

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

CARE London

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

CARE London

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

CARE Manchester

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

CARE Manchester

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

CARE Northampton

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

CARE Northampton

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

CARE Nottingham

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

CARE Nottingham

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

CARE Sheffield

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

CARE Sheffield

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

CARE Tunbridge Wells

Sperm

California Cryobank

CARE Tunbridge Wells

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Centre for Reproduction & Gynaecology, Wales

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Centre for Reproduction & Gynaecology, Wales

Oocyte

Manor IVF working with Reproductive Genetics Clinic 'Victoria'

Centre for Reproduction and Gynaecology Wales and West

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Coventry

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Chelsea & Westminster Hospital

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Chelsea & Westminster Hospital

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

City Fertility

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

City Fertility

Oocyte

Embryo

Reproductive Genetics Clinic Victoria

City Fertility

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Countess of Chester Hospital

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Create Fertility, Birmingham

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Create Fertility, Birmingham

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Create Fertility, Birmingham

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

Create Fertility, Bristol

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Create Fertility, Bristol

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Create Fertility, Bristol

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Create Fertility, London St Paul’s

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Create Fertility, London St Paul’s

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Create Fertility, London St Paul’s

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

Create Fertility, London Wimbledon

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Create Fertility, London Wimbledon

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Create Fertility, London Wimbledon

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

Create Fertility, Manchester

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Create Fertility, Manchester

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Create Fertility, Manchester

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Fertility Exeter Sperm Xytex Inc

GCRM Fertility

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

GCRM – Belfast Centre

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Guys Hospital

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

Guys Hospital

Sperm

California Cryobank

Guys Hospital

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Harley Street Fertility Clinic

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Harley Street Fertility Clinic

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

Herts and Essex Fertility Centre

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Hewitt Fertility Centre

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Homerton Fertility Centre

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

IVI Midland

Sperm

California Cryobank

IVI Midland Sperm Xytex Cryo International

IVI London (Wimpole Street)

Sperm

California Cryobank

IVI London (Wimpole Street)

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Jessop Fertility

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

King's Fertility

Sperm

California Cryobank

King's Fertility

Oocyte

Hong Kong Reproductive Medicine Centre

King's Fertility

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Leeds Fertility

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Leeds Fertility

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Lister Fertility Centre

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Lister Fertility Centre

Oocyte

Intersono – First Egg Bank

London Fertility Centre

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

London Fertility Centre

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

London Fertility Centre

Oocyte

IVF Centre Pedieos

London Women's Clinic

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

London Women's Clinic

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

London Women's Clinic, Wales

Sperm Xytex Cryo International

London Women's Clinic, Wales

Sperm Fairfax Cryobank

London Sperm Bank

Sperm Seattle Sperm Bank

Manchester Fertility

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life

Embryo

Oocyte

Sperm

NYU - Fertility Centre

Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

NewLife Fertility Centre Sperm Xytex Cryo International

Nuffield Health Woking Hospital

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Regional Fertility Centre

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Reproductive Genetics Institute

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Reproductive Genetics Institute

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Shropshire & Mid-Wales Fertility Centre

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Simply Fertility

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

St Mary’s Hospital

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

Thames Valley Fertility

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Thames Valley Fertility

Sperm

California Cryobank

The Agora Gynaecology and Fertility Centre

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

The Bridge Centre

Sperm

Seattle Sperm Bank

The Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

The Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

The Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

The Evewell Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

The Evewell Sperm Xytex Cryo International
The Fertility & Gynaecology Academy Sperm Xytex Cryo International
The Gateshead Fertility Unit Sperm Xytex Cryo International

Wales Fertility Institute – Cardiff

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Wales Fertility Institute – Cardiff

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Wales Fertility Institute – Neath

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Wales Fertility Institute - Neath

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Wessex Fertility Limited

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

Wessex Fertility Limited

Sperm

Fairfax Cryobank

Wolfson Fertility Centre

Sperm

California Cryobank LLC

Wolfson Fertility Centre

Sperm

Xytex Cryo International

 

Publication date: 6 January 2021

Review date: 6 January 2023