Question
asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 14 May 2007 (WA 3–4) regarding prohibitions against culturing embryos for more than 14 days in vitro, why the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is currently considering whether the culture of whole embryos to form outgrowths complies with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.
Answer
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised the department that the issue of culturing whole embryos to form outgrowths was first raised at a meeting of a licence committee in 2006, following consideration of a licensed research centre inspection report. This issue was considered by the HFEA's scientific and clinical advances group. The members agreed that the outgrowth could not be considered to be a live human embryo, as it would not be able to develop if placed in a woman. As such, it would not be subject to the prohibitions in Section 3 of the Act.