AMRC worked with its member charities, and through this their patient partners, as well as scientists, policymakers and other stakeholders to help shape the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 as it progressed through Parliament. This Act now takes into account developments in technology and public opinion since previous legislation in this area was made in 1990 and will help maintain the UK's position as a world leader in research.

The Act's importance to medical research and to patients lies in part in its provisions to enable the creation of ‘human admixed embryos.’ This could lead to a better understanding of, and perhaps ultimately treatments for, some of the most challenging diseases and conditions.

October 2009

• The majority of the provisions in the 2008 Act, including the new research provisions, are to be introduced. Details of the new provisions effecting research are available on request.

• The Department of Health held a consultation (closed 30 March 2009) on regulations to implement the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Act 2008.

November 2008

• The HFEA held a series of consultations with the fertility and research sectors to prepare the details and procedures for the Act's entry into force.  Details of the consultations on the 'HFEA's eighth Code of Practice & consent forms' and on 'the presentation of clinic data on performance and success rates' are available here. Results will be published after May 2009.
• The Bill received Royal Assent becoming the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. The Act does not immediately come into force. Provisions relating to parenthood will be introduced in April 2009. The remainder of the legislation including provisions clarifying the scope of embryo research will be introduced in October 2009.

October 2008

• Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill returns to Lords for consideration of the amendments made by the Commons. All Commons amendments pass unchanged
• Briefing for Peers on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill for their consideration of the Commons' amendments
• Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill completes Report stage and Third Reading in the Commons
• Briefing for MPs on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill for Commons report stage

May 2008

• Progress of the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
• AMRC statement on the House of Commons vote on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
• Report of demonstration outside Parliament in support of embryonic stem cell research, attended by patient groups, scientists and politicians
• AMRC statement on the second reading of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
• Notes on APPG on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill and ‘Human Admixed Embryos’
  

April 2008

• Briefing for MPs on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
• AMRC responds to reports of the creation of hybrid embryos by British scientists

March 2008

• AMRC reaction to announcement of a free vote on sections of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill
• AMRC and Genetic Interest Group (GIG) joint letter and background briefing for MPs in advance of the second reading of the HFE Bill

February 2008

• Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill passed in the House of Lords
• AMRC responds to Government undertaking on consent requirements on HFE Bill

January 2008

• Department of Health letter to Peers undertaking to introduce amendments to the consent provisions of the Bill
• AMRC responds to HFEA decision to award licences to applications to carry out research using human/animal cytoplasmic hybrid embryos (now called 'admixed')

December 2007

• AMRC provides briefings, with the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Academy of Medical Sciences and Royal Society to peers at each stage of the debate

November 2007

• AMRC response to publication of HFE Bill
• Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill  introduced into the House of Lords

October 2007

• AMRC reaction to publication of Government response to Joint Committee Report
• Government response to the Report from the Joint Committee on the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill

September 2007

• AMRC reaction to HFEA consultation report
• HFEA published  report  on consultation on 'Hybrids and Chimeras'

August 2007

• AMRC response to Joint Committee report
• Publication of the report of the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Committee

June 2007

• AMRC provides written and oral  evidence to the Joint Committee on the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill
• Reply from the Prime Minister to AMRC and Genetic Interest Group (GIG) letter 

May 2007

• AMRC statement on the Human Tissues and Embryos Draft Bill
• Publication of draft Human Tissues and Embryos Bil l for pre-legislative scrutiny

April 2007

• AMRC and the Genetic Interest Group letter to the (then) Prime Minister, Tony Blair, setting out the position of our members, following the publication of the report from the Science and Technology Committee Inquiry into the Regulation of Hybrid and Chimera Embryos

March 2007

• Science and Technology Committee publishes its report on the ‘Government proposals for the regulation of hybrid and chimera embryos’

February 2007

• Simon Denegri, Chief Executive of AMRC, gives oral evidence  to the Science and Technology Select Committee enquiry on the regulation of hybrid and chimera embryos

January 2007

• AMRC response to scientists' concerns about embryo research   
• AMRC response to the House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology enquiry on the regulation of hybrid and chimera embryos