Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990

1. Introductory Text

2. Principal terms used

   1. 1. Meaning of “embryo”, “gamete” and associated expressions

   2. 2. Other terms

3. Activities governed by the Act

   1. 3. Prohibitions in connection with embryos

   2. 4. Prohibitions in connection with gametes

4. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, its functions and procedure

   1. 5. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

   2. 6. Accounts and audit

   3. 7. Reports to Secretary of State

   4. 8. General functions of the Authority

   5. 9. Licence committees and other committees

   6. 10. Licensing procedure

5. Scope of licences

   1. 11. Licences for treatment, storage and research

6. Licence conditions

   1. 12. General conditions

   2. 13. Conditions of licences for treatment

   3. 14. Conditions of storage licences

   4. 15. Conditions of research licences

7. Grant, revocation and suspension of licences

   1. 16. Grant of licence

   2. 17. The person responsible

   3. 18. Revocation and variation of licence

   4. 19. Procedure for refusal, variation or revocation of licence

   5. 20. Appeal to Authority against determinations of licence committee

   6. 21. Appeals to High Court or Court of Session

   7. 22. Temporary suspension of licence

8. Directions and guidance

   1. 23. Directions: general

   2. 24. Directions as to particular matters

   3. 25. Code of practice

   4. 26. Procedure for approval of code

9. Status

   1. 27. Meaning of “mother”

   2. 28. Meaning of “father”

   3. 29. Effect of sections 27 and 28

   4. 30. Parental orders in favour of gamete donors

10. Information

    1. 31. The Authority’s register of information

    2. 32. Information to be provided to Registrar General

    3. 33. Restrictions on disclosure of information

    4. 34. Disclosure in interests of justice

    5. 35. Disclosure in interests of justice: congenital disabilities, etc

11. Surrogacy

    1. 36. Amendment of Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985

12. Abortion

    1. 37. Amendment of law relating to termination of pregnancy

13. Conscientious objection

    1. 38. Conscientious objection

14. Enforcement

    1. 39. Powers of members and employees of Authority

    2. 40. Power to enter premises

15. Offences

    1. 41. Offences

    2. 42. Consent to prosecution

16. Miscellaneous and General

    1. 43. Keeping and examining gametes and embryos in connection with crime, etc

    2. 44. Civil liability to child with disability

    3. 45. Regulations

    4. 46. Notices

    5. 47. Index

    6. 48. Northern Ireland

    7. 49. Short title, commencement, etc

17. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

       The Authority: Supplementary Provisions

       1. Status and capacity

          1. 1. The Authority shall not be regarded as the servant or...

          2. 2. The Authority shall have power to do anything which is...

       2. Expenses

          1. 3. The Secretary of State may, with the consent of the...

       3. Appointment of members

          1. 4. (1) All the members of the Authority (including the chairman...

       4. Tenure of office

          1. 5. (1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, a...

       5. Disqualification of members of Authority for House of Commons and Northern Ireland Assembly

          1. 6. In Part II of Schedule 1 to the House of...

       6. Remuneration and pensions of members

          1. 7. (1) The Authority may— (a) pay to the chairman such...

       7. Staff

          1. 8. (1) The Authority may appoint such employees as it thinks...

       8. Proceedings

          1. 9. (1) The Authority may regulate its own proceedings, and make...

          2. 10. (1) A member of the Authority who is in any...

          3. 11. The validity of any proceedings of the Authority, or of...

       9. Instruments

          1. 12. The fixing of the seal of the Authority shall be...

          2. 13. A document purporting to be duly executed under the seal...

       10. Investigation by Parliamentary Commissioner

           1. 14. The Authority shall be subject to investigation by the Parliamentary...

    2. SCHEDULE 2

       Activities for which licences may be granted

       1. Licences for treatment

          1. 1. (1) A licence under this paragraph may authorise any of...

       2. Licences for storage

          1. 2. (1) A licence under this paragraph or paragraph 1 or...

       3. Licences for research

          1. 3. (1) A licence under this paragraph may authorise any of...

       4. General

          1. 4. (1) A licence under this Schedule can only authorise activities...

    3. SCHEDULE 3

       Consents to use of gametes or embryos

       1. Consent

          1. 1. A consent under this Schedule must be given in writing...

          2. 2. (1) A consent to the use of any embryo must...

       2. Procedure for giving consent

          1. 3. (1) Before a person gives consent under this Schedule—

       3. Variation and withdrawal of consent

          1. 4. (1) The terms of any consent under this Schedule may...

       4. Use of gametes for treatment of others

          1. 5. (1) A person’s gametes must not be used for the...

       5. In vitro fertilisation and subsequent use of embryo

          1. 6. (1) A person’s gametes must not be used to bring...

       6. Embryos obtained by lavage, etc.

          1. 7. (1) An embryo taken from a woman must not be...

       7. Storage of gametes and embryos

          1. 8. (1) A person’s gametes must not be kept in storage...

    4. SCHEDULE 4

       Minor and Consequential Amendments

       1. Family Law Reform Act 1969 (c. 46.)

          1. 1. In section 25 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969...

       2. Social Security Act 1975 (c. 14.)

          1. 2. In section 25(1) of the Social Security Act 1975 (widowed...

       3. Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975 (c. 15.)

          1. 3. In section 25(1) of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act...

       4. Adoption Act 1976 (c. 36.)

          1. 4. In section 15 of the Adoption Act 1976 (adoption by...

       5. Family Law Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 (S.I. 1977/1250 (N.I. 17))

          1. 5. In Article 13 of the Family Law Reform (Northern Ireland)...

       6. Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978 (c. 28.)

          1. 6. In section 15 of the Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978 (adoption...

       7. Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (S.I. 1987/2203 (N.I. 22))

          1. 7. In Article 15 of the Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987...

       8. Human Organ Transplants Act 1989 (c. 31.)

          1. 8. Sections 27 to 29 of this Act do not apply...

       9. Human Organ Transplants (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

          1. 9. Sections 27 to 29 of this Act do not apply...