ACART extends egg, sperm and embryo storage consultations

14 March 2011

Media Release

ACART extends egg, sperm and embryo storage consultations to March 25

Public consultations on the proposed guidelines on extending the storage period for sperm, eggs and embryos beyond 10 years have been extended to March 25, the Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ACART) announced today.

ACART Chair Professor Sylvia Rumball said the committee decided to extend the public consultations by two weeks to allow more time for people to have their say.

“We recognise that many people with a potential interest in the guidelines may have been affected by the Christchurch earthquake, and therefore have been unable to provide feedback up to this time,” she said. "We are concerned that ACART may not be hearing from people who may be affected by the proposed guidelines. We want to hear from those people."

All sperm, eggs and embryos stored before or on 22 November 2004, when the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology (HART) Act came into force, will have to be used or disposed of by 22 November 2014 unless an ethics committee gives permission for them to be kept longer.

The HART Act sets a 10-year limit on the storage of sperm, eggs and embryos. The 10-year limit starts from the time the Act came into force on 22 November 2004, or later, depending on the date of first storage. The storage time for any sperm, eggs and embryos stored before 2004 is not counted in the 10-year limit.

One clinic has informed ACART that if the 10-year storage period came into effect now, about 500 men with sperm stored and 300 couples with embryos stored would need to decide whether to apply for extended storage.

After public consultations close, ACART will consider all submissions and revise the proposed guidelines as necessary. ACART will then consult with the Minister of Health on the revised proposed guidelines before issuing the final guidelines.

“When finalised and issued, the guidelines will enable the Ethics Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology to consider and decide individual applications for extending storage,” Professor Rumball explained.

Copies of the consultation document and submission form can be obtained from the ACART website (www.acart.health.govt.nz) or from the ACART Secretariat (email: acart@moh.govt.nz or phone 04 816 3931). A completed submission form or comments on the proposed guidelines can either be emailed to acart@moh.govt.nz or posted to: ACART Secretariat, P.O. Box 5013, Wellington.

ENDS

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