NHMRC Licensing Committee Publications and Reports to Paliament

The NHMRC is currently reviewing legislation relating to human cloning and research involving human embryos.

This web page provides information on:

» Licensing Committee reports to Parliament
» Bulletins
» Information kit

» Information for prospective embryo donors
» 'Human Embryo' - A biological definition

Section 19(3) of the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 requires the NHMRC Licensing Committee to table six monthly reports in either House of Parliament on or before 30 June and 31 December each year, and at any other time as required by either House of Parliament. The reports must include information about both the operation of this Act and licences issued under the Act.

Licensing Committee reports to Parliament

NHMRC Licensing Committee Report to the Parliament of Australia:

» Download: Report for 1 April 2007 to 30 September 2007 (PDF, 482kb) pdf file

» Download: Report for 1 October 2006 to 31 March 2007 (PDF, 395kb) pdf file

» Download: Report for 1 April 2006 to 30 September 2006 (PDF, 647 kb) pdf file

» Download: Report for 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2006 (PDF 421kb) pdf file

» Download: Report for 1 April 2005 to 30 September 2005 (PDF 952kb) pdf file

» Download: Report for 1 October 2004 to 31 March 2005 (PDF 226kb) pdf file

» Download: Report for 1 April 2004 to 30 September 2004 (PDF 542kb) pdf file

» Download: Report for 1 October 2003 to 31 March 2004 (PDF 156kb) pdf file

» Download: Report for 1 April 2003 to 30 September 2003 (PDF 214kb) pdf file

» Download: Report for 19 December 2002 to 31 March 2003 (PDF 178kb) pdf file

Bulletins

» Download: Licensing Committee Bulletin - December 2005 (PDF 700kb) pdf file

» Download: Licensing Committee Bulletin - December 2004 (PDF 150kb) pdf file

» Download: Licensing Committee Bulletin - June 2004 (PDF 248kb) pdf file

Information kit

» An information kit that has been developed to assist potential licence applicants

Information for prospective embryo donors

The Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 established a regulatory system for the use of certain human embryos in research. This system provides couples who have spare embryos that were created for their assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment, such as in vitro fertilisation, with the option of donating these embryos to research. The NHMRC Licensing Committee has produced a leaflet which explains this and other options that are available to couples in relation to embryos which are excess to their reproductive needs.

» Download: Options for Excess ART embryos - Information for couples (PDF 278kb) pdf file

'Human Embryo' - A biological definition

The NHMRC Licensing Committee developed this discussion in response to a request from the Council of the NHMRC for a definition of 'human embryo' from a purely biological standpoint. The paper was presented to Council in December 2005 and members recommended that the report be released as a discussion paper to provide an opportunity for a wider audience to comment on the biological definition of 'human embryo'. Any readers who wish to comment on this discussion paper, being mindful that it is a biological definition of 'human embryo', should provide their comments by e-mail to embryo.research@nhmrc.gov.au or in writing to

NHMRC Licensing Committee Secretariat
GPO Box 1421
Canberra ACT 2601

» Download: 'Human Embryo' - A biological definition (PDF 1.5Mb) pdf file

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