Which Member States allow research using human embryonic stem cells?
Belgium, UK and Sweden allow research using therapeutic cloning, which is expressly forbidden from receiving EU research programme funding. Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Spain, Netherlands have regulations allowing the derivation of new human embryonic stem cells from supernumerary IVF embryos. Estonia, Hungary, Latvia and Slovenia have no regulations, but allow some research on supernumerary IVF embryos. Germany and Italy have regulations which restrict human embryonic stem cell research. These regulations mean that scientists in these countries cannot derive new human embryonic stem cells, but can import them. In Germany, these cells have to have been derived before 1 January 2002. Austria, Ireland, Latvia and Poland have legislation prohibiting human embryonic stem cell research. What is the worldwide situation? In the US, federal funds are restricted to funding research on existing human embryonic stem cells derived before 9 August 2001. There are no restrictions for industrial
