§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines are laid down for the inspection of laboratories experimenting on human embryos. [162588]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 permits research using human embryos for purposes only specified in the Act. Any establishment wishing to carry out such research must be awarded a licence to do so from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), The HFEA's code of practice sets out the standards of conduct and practice expected of research establishments.
The HFEA inspects research establishments to ensure their compliance with the Act, the code of practice and the conditions of the research licence. Inspections are underpinned by the use of protocols specifically designed to guarantee consistency and thoroughness of a research inspection. These protocols are regularly reviewed by the HFEA to ensure they remain effective.