Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990

8(1)A person’s gametes must not be kept in storage unless there is an effective consent by that person to their storage and they are stored in accordance with the consent.U.K.

(2)An embryo the creation of which was brought about in vitro must not be kept in storage unless there is an effective consent, by each [F1relevant person in relation to] the embryo, to the storage of the embryo and the embryo is stored in accordance with those consents.

[F2(2A)Where a licence authorises the application of paragraph 6(3B) in relation to a person who has not attained the age of 18 years (“C”), the effective consent of a person having parental responsibility for C to the storage of an embryo in relation to which C is a relevant person by reason only of the use of C's human cells is to be treated for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) as the effective consent of C.

(2B)If C attains the age of 18 years or the condition in paragraph 15(3) ceases to be met in relation to C, paragraph 4 has effect in relation to C as if any effective consent previously given under sub-paragraph (2) by a person having parental responsibility for C had been given by C but, subject to that, sub-paragraph (2A) ceases to apply in relation to C.

(2C)For the purposes of sub-paragraphs (2) and (2A), each of the following is a relevant person in relation to an embryo the creation of which was brought about in vitro (“embryo A”)—

(a)each person whose gametes or human cells were used to bring about the creation of embryo A,

(b)each person whose gametes or human cells were used to bring about the creation of any other embryo, the creation of which was brought about in vitro, which was used to bring about the creation of embryo A, and

(c)each person whose gametes or human cells were used to bring about the creation of any human admixed embryo, the creation of which was brought about in vitro, which was used to bring about the creation of embryo A.]

(3)An embryo taken from a woman must not be kept in storage unless there is an effective consent by her to its storage and it is stored in accordance with the consent.

[F3(4)Sub-paragraph (1) has effect subject to paragraphs 9 and 10; and sub-paragraph (2) has effect subject to paragraphs 4A(4), 16 and 20.]

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I1Schedule 3 para. 8 wholly in force at 1.8.1991 see s. 49(2) and S.I. 1991/1400, art. 2(2)