What are the rules about importing and exporting embryos, sperm and eggs to and from European clinics?
The HFE Act 1990 was amended with effect from 5th July 2007 to bring the EU Tissues and Cells Directive (EUTCD) into UK law. The Directive sets out a common European-wide system of standards of quality and safety for patients and aims to ensure a high level of health protection within the European community.
The HFE Act 1990 was amended with effect from 5th July 2007 to bring the EU Tissues and Cells Directive (EUTCD) into UK law. The Directive sets out a common European-wide system of standards of quality and safety for patients and aims to ensure a high level of health protection within the European community. The law says that the transfer of sperm, eggs and embryos within the European Economic Area (EEA) can only occur between clinics ‘accredited, designated, authorised, or licensed’ under the laws implementing the EU Tissue and Cells Directive (EUTCD). This means that both the sending and receiving clinics must be accredited to the standards set by the EUCTD by the by the relevant national body in each country. In the UK all clinics are accredited through the HFEA. These requirements on importing and exporting from accredited clinics have been in place since the Directive was incorporated into UK law from 5 July 2007.
