EUROPE

 

 

COUNCIL OF EUROPE

 

         �Additional Protocol (Explanatory Report) to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine� (12 January 1998). http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/168.htm

 

Article 1: �Any intervention seeking to create a human being genetically identical to another human being, whether living or dead is prohibited. For the purpose of this article, the term human being �genetically identical� to another human beings means a human being sharing with another the same nuclear gene set.�

     

         �Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the application of����������� Biology and Medicine - Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine� (Oviedo, 4 April 1997).���������
������������ http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/164.htm

Article 13: �Interventions on the human genome

An intervention seeking to modify the human genome may only be undertaken for preventive, diagnostic or therapeutic purposes and only if its aim is not to introduce any modification in the genome of any descendants.�

  

 

AUSTRIA

 

         �Federal Law (Serial 275) Regulating Medically Assisted Procreation (The Reproductive Medicine Law), and��� ����������� Amending the General Civil Code� (1992).

 

         The Marriage Law and the Rules of Jurisdiction. (1993) Search: http://www.bmwf.gv.at/ (in German)

 

The law does not explicitly prohibit the cloning of human beings, but it limits research on human embryos (defined as �developable cells�). Its central principle is that reproductive medicine is acceptable only within a stable heterosexual relationship for the purpose of reproduction.

Article 9 states that fertilized human oocytes and cells derived therefrom may not be used for purposes other than medically assisted reproduction, and any intervention into the germline is strictly prohibited. Any violation or attempt at violation is subject to administrative or criminal prosecution.

 

(�National Legislation Concerning Human Reproductive and Therapeutic Cloning,� UNESCO Division of the Ethics of Science and Technology (Paris, April 2004).)

 

 

BELGIUM

 

�         �Law concerning research on embryos in vitro� (11 May 2003).

����������� Search:http://www.senat.be/www/webdriver?MIval=index_senate&M=1&LANG=fr

 

Art. 2: �For the application of the present law, the following definitions apply:

7. Reproductive human cloning � the production of one or more humans whose genes are identical to the person from whom the cloning took place.�

 

Art. 4:

�1. The creation of in vitro embryos for research purposes is forbidden, unless the objective of the research cannot be achieved by research on excess embryos and in as much as the conditions of the present law are met.�

 

Art. 5: �It is forbidden:

4. to effect research or treatments with a eugenic purpose, in other words focused on the selection or amplification of non pathological genetic characteristics of the human species.�

 

Art. 6: �Human reproductive cloning is forbidden.� (Author�s translation)

 

 

 DENMARK

 

         �Act No. 460 on Medically Assisted Procreation in connection with medical treatment, diagnosis and research� (10 ����������� June 1997, amended by Act No. 427, June 2003)

 

The Act forbids research on human reproductive cloning and somatic cell nuclear transfer (therapeutic cloning).

(�National Legislation Concerning Human Reproductive and Therapeutic Cloning,� UNESCO Division of the Ethics of Science and Technology (Paris, April 2004).)

 

         �Act No. 503 on a Scientific, Ethical Committee System and the Handling of Biomedical Research Projects� (1992).

 

Section 15: �The following experiments shall be prohibited:

1. experiments whose purpose is to enable the production of genetically identical human beings;

2. experiments whose purpose is to enable the production of human beings by the fusion of genetically different embryos or parts of embryos prior to their implantation in the uterus;

3. experiments whose purpose is to enable the production of living human beings who are hybrids with a genetic constitution including components from other species; and

4. experiments whose purpose is to enable the development of human beings in the uterus of another species.�

 

(Karnovs Lovsamling 2 (1995) p. 2819. Translation from: International Digest of Health Legislation Vol. 43, No. 4 (1992) pp. 758-760)

 

  

ESTONIA

 

� �������� Penal Code (Passed 6 June 2001, entered into force 1 September 2002, (consolidated text Jan 2004)

http://www.legaltext.ee/en/andmebaas/ava.asp?tyyp=SITE_ALL&ptyyp=I&m=00 0&query=embryo&nups.x=18&nups.y=11

 

�Illegal Treatment of Embryo or Foetus

� 130. Prohibited acts with embryo

Human cloning or creating a human hybrid or human chimera is punishable by a pecuniary punishment or up to 3 years� imprisonment.

 

� 131. Abuse of human embryo or foetus

A person who creates a human embryo or foetus in vitro without the intention to transfer the embryo of foetus to a woman, or outside an institution duly authorised by law or without the corresponding lawful right, or preserves a human embryo or foetus in vitro in an unfrozen form for longer than the term provided by law or performs unauthorised transactions with an embryo or foetus, shall be punished by a pecuniary punishment.�

 

�  ������� Patents Act (16 March 1994, amended by Act RT I 2003, 18, 106; 29 January 2003)

����������� http://www.legaltext.ee/en/andmebaas/ava.asp?tyyp=SITE_ALL&ptyyp=I&m=00

0&query=embryo&nups.x=18&nups.y=11

 

�Chapter II

Patent Protection and Patentability

(2) The following biotechnological inventions shall not be protected by a patent:

1) processes for cloning human beings;

2) processes for modifying the germ line genetic identity of human beings;

3) uses of human embryos for commercial purposes, including processes prohibited by the Artificial Insemination and Embryo Protection Act.�

 

 

 FINLAND

 

�������� The Act on Medical Research, No. 488/1999� (1999).

����� http://www.finlex.fi/pdf/saadkaan/E9990488.PDF

 

����� Section 11:Conditions governing research involving embryos

Research on embryos outside a woman�s body may be carried out only by agencies that have been granted the appropriate licence by the National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs. The conditions for the granting of the licence shall be laid down by Decree.

Medical research shall be permitted on embryos only if no more than 14 days �� have passed from their formation. The time during which an embryo is kept frozen shall not count for the purposes of calculating this time limit.�

 

����� Section 12: �Consent for research on embryos

Research on embryos outside a woman�s body may not be undertaken without the written consent of the persons who donated the gametes. The donors shall be provided with the information referred to in section 6(2). Consent may be withdrawn on the same terms as set out in section 6(3). Embryos produced from donated gametes may not be used for research once the withdrawal of consent has been received. Research on an embryo inside a woman�s body may not be undertaken without���� her written consent.�

 

����� Section 13:Restrictions on research on embryos

The production of embryos exclusively for the purpose of research shall be forbidden.Embryos that have been used for research may not be implanted in a human body or be kept alive for longer than 14 days from their formation, not including any time during which they have been kept frozen.Research may use embryos that have been stored for up to 15 years, after which the embryos must be destroyed.�

 

����� Section 15:Prohibited research

Research on embryos and gametes for the purpose of developing procedures for modifying hereditary properties shall be prohibited, unless the research is for the purpose of curing or preventing a serious hereditary disease.�

 

����� Section 25:Unlawful research on embryos and gametes

Any person who conducts research on embryos without the licence referred to in section 11 or in contravention of the restrictions laid down in sections 11 and 13, or who in contravention of the prohibition in section 15 conducts research on embryos or gametes, shall be fined or imprisoned for a period not exceeding a year for unlawful research on embryos and gametes.�

 

����� Section 26: �Unlawful intervention on the genome

����� Any person who conducts research with the aim of:

����� (1) cloning human beings;

����� (2) creating a human being by combining embryos;

����� (3) creating a human being by combining human gametes and genes from animals, shall be fined or imprisoned for a ����� period not exceeding two years for unlawful intervention on the genome.�

 

�������� Medical Research Decree, No. 986/1999� (1999).���� http://www.finlex.fi/pdf/saadkaan/E9990986.PDF

 

Section 4:Conditions governing institutions that are carrying out research involving embryos

The condition for granting a licence referred to in section 11 of the Medical Research Act is that the institution has appropriate research facilities and equipment, as well as the staff needed for the activity.

When an institution applies for a licence referred to in paragraph 1 from the National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs, the institution shall append to the application information about:

1) the content and extent of the research;

2) the facilities used for the research;

3) devices and equipment used for the research;

4) staff engaged in the research;

5) quality assurance of the research; and

6) the ethics committee assessing the research.

If the applicant is an institution referred to in the Private Health Care Act (152/1990), to the application shall be attached, in addition, information about the licence granted to the institution.

The National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs will issue, if necessary, further instructions for the application procedure.�

 

 

 FRANCE

 

� �������� Bioethics Law� (8 July 2004, amended Law No. 94-653 of July 29 1994, on Respect for the Human Body and Law���� No. 94-654 of July 29 1994, on the ��� Donation and Use of Elements and Products of the Human Body, Medically ����������� Assisted Procreation, and Prenatal Diagnosis.)

 

����������� Part I:

����������� http://www.senat.fr/pl/106-1ere-partie-0304.pdf (in French)

����������� Part II:

����������� http://www.senat.fr/pl/106-2eme-partie-0304.pdf (in French)

 

The bioethics legislation and its amendments specifically prohibit human cloning for reproductive and therapeutic purposes, germline gene therapy and the creation of embryos purely for research purposes.

Human reproductive cloning is considered a �crime against the human race� and has been criminalized with jail sentences of up to 20 years and the imposition of fines; research or therapeutic cloning is punishable with up to 7 years in prison and fines.

 

 

 GEORGIA

 

�        �Law on the rights of the patients� (5 May 2000).

http://www3.who.int/idhl-��������� rils/results.cfm?language=english&type=ByCountry&strRefCode=Geo&strTopic Code=XIA

 

Chapter VI: �Rights in the field of genetic counseling and gene therapy

Section 33 Interventions to modify the genome may only be carried out for diagnostic, therapeutic, or preventive purposes; they may not be aimed at modifying the genome of the patient's descendants.�

 

�        �Law on Health Care� (10 December 1997)

����������� http://www3.who.int/idhl-rils/results.cfm?language=english&type=ByCountry&strRefCode=Geo&strTopicCode=IA

 

Section 142:

�(1) Human cloning through the use of genetic engineering shall be prohibited.

(2) The State shall control research in the field of genetic engineering in accordance with the law.�

 

 

 GERMANY

 

�  ������� Federal Embryo Protection Law� (1990) (Bundesgesetzblatt, Part 1, December 19, 1990,pp. 2746-2748)

����������� http://www.bmgesundheit.de/rechts/genfpm/embryo/embryo.htm (in German)

����������� Search http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/index.html

 

�5. (1) Any person who artificially alters the genetic information of a human germline cell shall be punished by up to five years' imprisonment or by a fine.

(2) The same penalty shall be imposed on any person who uses a human germ cell with artificially modified genetic information for fertilization.

 

Clones

6. (1) Any person who artificially causes a human embryo to develop with the same genetic information as another embryo, fetus, living person, or deceased person shall be punished by up to five years' imprisonment or by a fine.

(2) The same penalty shall be imposed on a person who transfers an embryo as specified in subsection 1 into a woman.

(3) Attempts shall be punishable.

 

Creation of chimeras and hybrids

7. (1) A penalty of up to five years' imprisonment or a fine shall be imposed on any person who attempts:

1. to unite in one syncytium embryos with different genetic information, involving the use of at least one human embryo;

2. to combine a human embryo with a cell that contains different genetic information from the embryo cells, and which is capable of subsequent differentiation; or

3. by fertilization of a human egg cell with the sperm of an animal or by fertilization of an animal's egg cell with the sperm of a man, to produce an embryo capable of differentiation.

(2) The same penalty shall be imposed on any person who attempts:

1. to transfer an embryo produced by a procedure as specified in subsection 1 into:

(a) a woman; or

(b) an animal; or

2. to transfer a human embryo into an animal.�

 

�Definitions

8. (1) For the purpose of this Law, the term "embryo" means the human egg cell, fertilized and capable of development, from the time of fusion of the nuclei, as well as each totipotent cell removed from an embryo that is capable, in the presence of other necessary conditions, of dividing and developing into an individual�

 

 

GREECE 

 

�        �Law No. 3089 on Medically Assisted Reproduction� (2002).

 

Prohibits inter alia reproductive cloning.

(�National Legislation Concerning Human Reproductive and Therapeutic Cloning,� UNESCO Division of the Ethics of Science and Technology (Paris, April 2004).)


 HUNGARY 

 

�        �Law No. 154 on public health� (15 December 1997).

����������� http://www3.who.int/idhl-rils/results.cfm?language=english&type=ByCountry&strRefCode=Hung&strTopi����������� cCode=IA

 

Chapter VIII. Medical research on human subjects (Sections. 157-164). Under Section 162, research and manipulations aimed at or giving rise to changes in the genetic heritage of the human being may only be carried out for preventive, diagnostic, or therapeutic purposes and provided that, subject to the exceptions referred to in subsections 1 and 2 of Section 182, the purpose of such research or manipulation is not to modify the genetic heritage of a person's descendants or to create a new individual.

 

 

ICELAND

 

�  ������� �Artificial Fertilisation Act No. 55� (29 May 1996)

 ���������� http://eng.heilbrigdisraduneyti.is/laws-and-regulations/nr/685

 

Art. 11: �Research on embryos
All research, experiments and operations on embryos is prohibited.
Nevertheless, it is permitted to carry out research on embryos:
a) if it is part of an in vitro fertilisation treatment,
b) if the intention is to diagnose hereditary diseases in the embryos
themselves,
c) if the purpose is to advance the treatment of infertility, or
d) if the purpose is to improve understanding of the causes of congenital
diseases and miscarriages.�

 

Art. 12: �It is prohibited to:
a) cultivate or produce embryos solely for research purposes,
b) cultivate embryos for more than 14 days outside the body or once the
primitive streak has appeared,
c) transplant human embryos into animals, and
d) perform cloning.�

 

Art. 14: �Violation of the provisions of this Act or of rules based on it entails fines or imprisonment of up to three months under the terms of this Act.
Participation in such a violation shall entail the same penalties, unless more severe penalties apply under other legislation.�

 

�   ������ Regulation No. 568/1997 on Artificial Fertilisation,� Iceland Ministry of Health and Social Security (30 September����������� 1997).

 ���������� http://eng.heilbrigdisraduneyti.is/laws-and-regulations/nr/686

 

Article 22: �Any research, experiments and operations on embryos shall be prohibited.
Nevertheless, it is permitted to do research on embryos:


a) if it is part of an in vitro fertilization treatment,
b) if the intention is to diagnose hereditary diseases in the embryos themselves,
c) if the purpose is to advance the treatment of infertility, or
d) if the purpose is to increase understanding of the causes of innate diseases and miscarriages.

It is prohibited to carry out research pursuant to points c) and d) unless it meets the conditions of Article 1 (8) on scientific research and the approval of the Scientific Ethics Committee or ethics committees has been obtained pursuant to Article 29 of Act No. 74/1997 on the Rights of Patients.�

 

Article 23: �It is prohibited to:

a) cultivate or produce embryos solely for research purposes,
b) cultivate embryos for more than 14 days outside the body or once the primitive streak has appeared,
c) transplant human embryos into animals and
d) perform cloning.�

 

Article 24: �Infringement of these rules is subject to fines or imprisonment of up to three months, cf. Article 14 of Act No. 55/1966 on Artificial Fertilization.

Participation in such an infringement shall be punishable in the same way unless it is subject to a more severe punishment according to other laws.�

 

�    �Act on the Rights of Patients, No. 74/1997� (1997). http://brunnur.stjr.is/interpro/htr/htr.nsf/pages/lawsandregs

  

 

IRELAND

 

�     ���� Constitution of Ireland http://193.178.1.117/upload/publications/297.pdf

 

 

Article 40 (3.3�) �The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.�

 

The Constitution is interpreted as an implicit prohibition on human cloning.

 

 

 ITALY

 

�        �Assisted Medical Procreation Law� (10 February 2004). 

 ���������� http://www.parlamento.it/att/giornal/home.htm (in Italian)

�����������  http://www.parlamento.it/att/giornal/home.htm

����������� http://www.senato.it/bgt/ShowDoc.asp?leg=14&id=00090801&tipodoc=Ddlmess &modo=PRODUZIONE

 

Article 13 of the law prohibits the prohibition of embryos solely for research purposes or any other purpose not explicitly authorized in the law. It further prohibits the �selection, manipulation or any other procedure directed at altering the genetic patrimony/heritage of the embryo or the gamete.This is to predetermine their genetic characteristics, with the exception of diagnostic and therapeutic purposes contemplated in article 13.2.�

����������� The law also forbids �cloning interventions by means of nuclear transfer or early embryo splitting whether for����� ����������� reproductive or therapeutic purposes.� (Author�s translation)

 

 

LATVIA

 

�        �Law on Sexual and Reproductive Health� (July 2002).

 

The Law on Human Reproductive and Sexual Healthregulates human medically assisted reproduction and the protection of the embryo.Article 16 of the law prohibits human cloning, or the use of medical techniques to create a human being genetically identical to another, alive or dead; it also forbids the creation of human embryos for research and therapeutic cloning.

 

Under the Act research on human embryos may be authorized if the following conditions are met: absence of alternative method, positive assessment of the scientific merit and ethical acceptability by an authorized body, and informed consent of the donors.

 

There are no regulations directly addressing human embryonic stem cells research and use, but research on embryos in vitro is allowed under Regulations of the Ministry of Welfare.

 

(Report on Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Commission of the European Communities. Brussels, April 3 2003.

�National Legislation Concerning Human Reproductive and Therapeutic Cloning,� UNESCO Division of the Ethics of Science and Technology (Paris, April 2004).)

 

 

LITHUANIA

 

�   ������ Law on Ethics of Biomedical Research No. VIII-1679� (11 May, 2000)

����������� http://www3.lrs.lt/c-bin/eng/preps2?Condition1=148740&Condition2

 

Article 3: �Objectives, Subjects and Characteristics of Biomedical Research

2. Human embryos may be subjects only of clinical observations (non-invasion investigations). Other clinical investigations involving human embryos and their creation for  purposes of biomedical research shall be prohibited. Human embryos may be subjected to such biomedical research where the medical risks for the embryo are not disproportionate to the potential benefits.

3. Cloning of a human being shall be prohibited.�

 

 

THE NETHERLANDS

 

�        �The Embryos Act� (July 2002).

����������� http://www.minvws.nl/documents/IBE/wetstekst/eng-embryowettekst.pdf(in �� Dutch)

 

�The Embryo Act, which came into effect on 1 September 2002, sets conditions for and restrictions on the use of embryos and gametes in the Netherlands. It bans the cloning of human beings as well as any experiments combining human and animal cells. Under this Act, a baby's sex may not be predetermined, nor may the genetic code of gametes or embryos be changed. Embryos may not be produced for any purpose other than pregnancy. The Act also bans trade in gametes and embryos.

People who have successfully undergone IVF treatment may donate the gametes or embryos they no longer need to a third party to produce embryonic stem cells or for scientific research. Out of respect for human life, the Embryo Act bans the production of embryos purely for research purposes.

Certain conditions apply to scientific research. The results it is expected to yield must be of medical importance. If there are alternative methods, they must be used. Finally, all research programmes must be approved by the Central Committee on Research involving Human Subjects (CCMO).�*

(*Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports, The Embryos Act; 03/03/2003.

http://www.minvws.nl/en/themes/embryo_act/default.asp)

 

The Embryos Act prohibits human reproductive cloning and strictly regulates research on embryos. Article 11 prohibits the performance of scientific research with embryos created specifically for this purpose. This prohibition shall not apply to scientific research which is reasonably likely to lead to the identification of new insights in the field of fertility, in the field of artificial reproduction techniques, in the field of congenital diseases or in the filed of transplant medicine, and which can only be performed by making use of embryos as referred to in the first sentence.

 

Article 24 prohibits the use of embryos specifically created for scientific research and purposes other than the generation of a pregnancy; performing procedures with gametes or embryos with a view to the birth of genetically identical human individuals.

(�National Legislation Concerning Human Reproductive and Therapeutic Cloning,� UNESCO Division of the Ethics of Science and Technology (Paris, April 2004).)

 

NORWAY

 

�        �Law No. 100 on the use of biotechnology in human medicine (the Biotechnology ���������� Law)� (5 December 2003,����������� amending Law No. 79 of December 13 2002 and repealing Law No. 56 of 5 August 1994)

����������� http://www.lovdata.no/all/nl-20031205-100.html (in Norwegian)

 

�3.1. Prohibition of research on fertilized eggs, etc.
Research on fertilized eggs, human embryos, and cell lines cultured from fertilized eggs or human embryos shall be prohibited.�


�3.2. Prohibition of the production of human embryos by cloning, etc.
It shall be prohibited:
(a) to produce human embryos by cloning;
(b) to carry out research on cell lines cultured from human embryos produced by cloning; and
(c) to produce embryos by cloning through the introduction of heritable material from a human being into an egg cell of an animal.
Cloning means techniques for producing heritable identical copies.�

 

 

POLAND

 

�   ������ "Law on Family Planning, Protection of Human Fetuses, and the Conditions under which Pregnancy Termination is����������� Possible" (January 1993).

 

Prohibits human reproductive cloning.

 

((1993) 44: 2 Int. Dig. Hlth. Leg., 253.)     

 

 PORTUGAL

 

�       �Opinion No. 21/CNECV/97 on the Ethical Implications of Cloning,� National Council of Ethics for the Life Sciences ����������� (1 April 1997).

����������� http://www.cnecv.gov.pt/NR/rdonlyres/8EA5B11B-914D-4C81-B24F-DFEC00015EB0/0/P021Clonagem.pdf����������� (in Portuguese)

 

�2. The cloning of human beings, because of the problems it raises concerning the human dignity, the equilibrium of the species and life in society, is ethically unacceptable and must be prohibited.�

 

 

  RUSSIAN FEDERATION

 

� �������� Law on the Temporary Prohibition of Human Cloning� (April 2002).

The creation of �a human being, genetically identical to another one, dead or alive, by means of implantation of a human body cell into a female gamete preliminary deprived of it nucleus� is subject to a temporary 5-year ban.

 

The law also prohibits import and export of human cloned embryos for the same period. Persons violating the law will be prosecuted in accordance with the federal legislation. However, neither the Criminal nor Administrative Code provides punishment for cloning acts.

 

(�National Legislation Concerning Human Reproductive and Therapeutic Cloning,� UNESCO Division of the Ethics of Science and Technology (Paris, April 2004).)

  

 

 

SLOVAKIA

 

�        �The Health Care Law� (1994).

 

Article 46: �Any intervention seeking to create a human being genetically identical to another human being, whether living or dead, is prohibited.�

Research cloning is implicitly prohibited under Article 42.3c) �research without medical indication is not permitted on human embryos and fetuses.�

 

�        Slovak Penal Code (Amended September 2003)

 

Article 246a.

�1) Any person who performs any intervention seeking to create a human being in any stage of development genetically identical to another human being, whether living or dead, shall be sentenced from 3 to 8 years of imprisonment or shall be punished by a prohibition of activity or pecuniary penalty.�

2) The perpetrator shall be sentenced from 5 to 12 years of imprisonment if he/she:

a)     commits the criminal offence referred to in paragraph 1 in the capacity of a member of an organised group;

b)     gains for himself/herself or for other person no noticeable profit.�

 

   ������ The Patent Act No. 435/2001 Coll. (Amended by the Act No. 402/2002 Coll. (11 November 2001).

����������� www.indprop.gov.sk/english/pravo/43501.pdf

 

Article 6: �Exceptions to patentability

(2) Pursuant to paragraph 1(e) the following, in particular, shall not be considered

patentable:

a) processes for cloning human beings,

b) processes for modifying the germ line genetic identity of human beings.�

 

 

SLOVENIA

 

         �The Law on Medically Assisted Reproduction� (2001).

 

         Penal Code (2002).

 

Human cloning for reproductive, research or therapeutic purposes is forbidden as are inheritable genetic modification procedures.  

 

 

 

SPAIN

 

��������� Law No. 35/1988 on Assisted Human Reproduction Techniques (22 November ��������� 1988, modified by Organic����������� Law No. 10/995 of 23 November 1995 and amended ����������� by Law 45/2003)

����������� http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/Admin/l35-1988.html#a11

�����������  http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/Admin/l45-2003.html (in Spanish)

 

The law No.35/1988 establishes in sections �13.3(d) and 15.2(b) that �any therapeutic intervention, investigation or research activity in pre-embryos in vitro, pre-embryos, embryos and fetuses in utero, will be authorized only if such intervention or activity does not alter its genetic make-up (in so far as it does not contain any anomaly), or if it is not aimed to individual or race selection�.

(Author�s translation)

 

Article 20.B: �The following are very grave infractions:

k) The creation of identical human beings, by cloning or other procedures for racial selection.

l) The creation of human beings by cloning in any of its variations, or any other procedure that can initiate identical human beings.

m) Parthenogenesis, or stimulating the development of an ovum by any method, physical or chemical, without fertilization by sperm, by solely feminine descent.

n) Sex selection, or genetic manipulation that is not therapeutic, or is therapeutic but not authorized.� (Author�s translation)

 

��������� Law No. 42/88 on the donation and use of human embryos, fetuses and cells, tissues and organs� (28 December����������� 1988).

http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/Admin/l42-1988.html(in Spanish)

 

��������� Penal Code, Law No. 10/95, November 23, 1995

����������� http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/Penal/lo10-1995.html(in Spanish)

 

The Organic Law introduced in section II of the Penal Code a Title V: Offences relating to genetic engineering, prescribing criminal and civil sanctions for its violation.

 The Spanish Penal Code (Article 16 1,2) prohibits bringing about the birth of identical human beings as a result of cloning or other procedures aimed at the selection of humans.

 

�1. There will be a penalty of one to five years imprisonment as well as ineligibility for public employment or office for six to ten years for fertilizing a human ovum with any purpose other than human procreation.

2. The same penalties apply for the creation of identical human beings by cloning or other procedures directed at racial selection.� (Author�s translation)

 

  

SWEDEN

 

�        Law No. 115 an Act concerning measures for the purposes of Research or Treatment in connection with Fertilized����������� Human Oocytes (1993).

The act implicitly prohibits embryo and oocyte cloning.It states that the purpose of experimentation shall not be to develop methods aimed at causing heritable genetic defects. Finally, the act imposes criminal sanctions for the violation of its provisions.

(�National Legislation Concerning Human Reproductive and Therapeutic Cloning,� UNESCO Division of the Ethics of Science and Technology (Paris, April 2004).)

 

� �������� Act No. 460 on Ethics Review of Research Involving Humans (2003)

This statute and the in vitro Fertilization law of 1988 govern embryo research. Any research, which seeks to genetically modify the embryo, is prohibited. The statute implicitly prohibits embryo and oocyte cloning with criminal sanction.


In December 2001, the Swedish Research Council declared that creating embryos through somatic cell nuclear transfer for therapeutic purposes �can be ethically defensible� which would require formulation or a legal framework by the Swedish government.

http://www.vr.se/fileserver/index.asp?fil=LCK7HDEK3U6H

 

  

(�Report on Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research,� Commission of the European Communities (Brussels, 3 April 2003); �National Legislation Concerning Human Reproductive and Therapeutic Cloning,� UNESCO Division of the Ethics of Science and Technology �Paris, April 2004).)

 

 

SWITZERLAND

 

�  ������� Federal Act on Research on Surplus Embryos and Embryonic Stem Cells (Embryonic Research Act). (Approved by Referendum November 2004)

http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/ff/2003/7481.pdf (in French)

 

The Act prohibits both the creation of embryos for research purposes (therapeutic cloning) and cloning for reproductive purposes.

 

�        �Federal Order on the revision of the Federal Constitution� (December 1998).

���������� http://www3.who.int/idhl-rils/results.cfm?language=english&type=ByCountry&strRefCode=Switz&strTopicCode=IA

 

Article 119:

(1) Human beings shall be protected against abuse with regard to medically assisted procreation and genetic engineering.
(2) The Confederation shall legislate on the use of the human germline and genetic heritage. In doing so, it shall ensure that human dignity, personhood, and the family are protected and that the following principles are respected:
a. any form of cloning and any intervention involving the genetic heritage of human gametes and embryos is prohibited;


c. recourse to medically assisted procreation methods may be authorized only in cases where sterility or the danger of the transmission of a serious disease cannot be averted in any other way, and not for the development of certain qualities in the child or for research; the fertilization of human ovocytes outside the body of a woman shall be authorized only under the conditions laid down by law; only the number of human oocytes that may be immediately implanted may be developed to the embryo stage outside the body of a woman;
e. there may be no trade involving human germline material or products resulting from embryos.�

�     ���� "Federal Act on Research on Surplus Embryos and Embryonic Stem Cells(Embryonic Research Act),� Swiss Government (8 April 2004). http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/ff/2003/7481.pdf (in French)

 

Article 3: �Forbidden practices

1.      It is forbidden to:

a.       produce an embryo for research purposes (art. 29 para 1 of the law of 18 December 1998 on Medically Assisted Procreation), produce stem cells from such an embryo or use such stem cells;

b.      modify the hereditary patrimony of germ cells (art. 35, para 1, of the law of 18 December 1998 on Medically Assisted Procreation), produce embryonic stem cells from an embryo whose germline was modified, or use such cells;

c.       create a clone, a chimera or a hybrid (art. 36, para 1, of the law of 18 December 1998 on Medically Assisted Procreation), produce embryonic stem cells from a clone, a chimera or a hybrid, or use such cells;

d.      develop a parthenote, produce embryonic stem cells from a parthenote, or use such cells;

e.       import or export an embryo of the kind described in a. or b., a clone, a chimera, a hybrid or a parthenote.� (Author�s translation)

 

Section 5: Penal Provisions

Art. 24: �Offences��������������������

Is liable for imprisonment anyone who, intentionally:

1.      produced embryonic stem cells from an embryo created for research purposes, from an embryo whose genetic patrimony was modified, or from a clone, a chimera, a hybrid or a parthenote, used such cells or imported or exported such an embryo, clone, chimera, hybrid or parthenote (art. 3, para 1).� (Author�s translation)

 

 

TURKEY

 

�        �Regulation on In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer Centers� (1996)

 

Prohibits human reproductive cloning.

 

UKRAINE

 

�   Ban on Human Reproductive Cloning Bill (January 2004)

 

The Bill prohibits human reproductive cloning but cloning for research or therapeutic purposes was not included in the Bill.

 

 

UNITED KINGDOM

 

�        �Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001,� UK Stat. 2001 c23 &1, (in force 4 �� December 2001).

����������� http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2001/20010023.htm

 

Article 1: �The offence 

(1)   A person who places in a woman a human embryo which has been created otherwise than by fertilisation is guilty of an offence.

(2)   A person who is guilty of the offence is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or a fine or both.

(3)   No proceedings for the offence may be instituted-

(a) in England and Wales, except with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions;

(b) in Northern Ireland, except with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.�