12 November 2019
Dear Colleague
Update to the Code of Practice (Revised November 2019)
On 16th December 2019, we plan to publish an update to the Code of Practice that will affect some guidance notes. Details of these changes are set out in the following annexes:
- Annex I: Summary of changes to the Code of Practice in the December 2019 update
- Annex II: Updated ‘Revision control sheet’ (lists all updated areas of the Code of Practice)
- Annex III: Changes to Code of Practice guidance notes
All changes highlighted in yellow in Annex III are to be removed, changes set out in red are additions.
This Code of Practice update includes revisions to the following areas of guidance:
- Information to be provided prior to consent
- Legal parenthood
- Welfare of the child
- Donor recruitment, assessment and screening
- Payments for donors
- Surrogacy
- Procuring, processing and transporting gametes and embryos
- Donor assisted conception
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
- Research and training
- Confidentiality and privacy
These changes will come into effect on 16th December 2019, when the revised guidance and consent forms will be updated on the Knowledge Base of the HFEA Clinic Portal and website.
What should you do now?
A summary of all changes in this update are listed at Annex I, while changes to the Code of Practice are listed at Annex III. Please read the updated areas and make sure that you and your colleagues are familiar with any changes that may be relevant to your clinic, including changes to the consent forms. If you have any questions, please contact your inspector. These changes come into effect immediately when the Code of Practice is published on 16th December 2019.
Yours sincerely
Sally Chehire
Chair, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.