Question
asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 19 March (WA 44), 21 April (WA 234) and 12 May (WA 110), (a) how the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority ensures that embryos do not develop past 14 days or the appearance of the primitive streak; (b) whether outgrowing embryos have ceased to be human embryos and are therefore outside the authority's remit, and (c) what evidence there is that their assessment of outgrowing embryos ensures compliance with the law.
Answer
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 provides that no licence may permit the culture of a ““live human embryo”” beyond 14 days or the appearance of the primitive streak, whichever comes first. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is required to ensure that centres comply with this statutory requirement, and it is for the HFEA to decide what inspection measures are needed to satisfy itself that centres do so.