Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) , including IVF (or in vitro fertilisation) is regulated in Australia through both legislative and voluntary compliance frameworks. Legislation in three states is underpinned by a national system of accreditation by the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee (RTAC) of the Fertility Society of Australia, which is in turn is underpinned by guidelines produced by the NHMRC. This is outlined in more detail below.
Current legislation
ART is regulated by specific legislation in three States, the Victorian Infertility Treatment Act (1995) , the South Australian Reproductive Technology Act (1988) and the Western Australian Human Reproductive Technology Act (1991) . Each of these pieces of legislation establishes a State regulatory body which issues Licences to clinics that provide ART services.
There is no Commonwealth legislation covering the regulation of ART clinical practice.
The Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 includes a requirement that use of non-excess ART embryos occurs in an RTAC-accredited ART clinic.
Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee (RTAC)
RTAC, under the Fertility Society of Australia, administers a national Code of Practice and a system for the accreditation of ART clinics in Australia. Through its Code of Practice, RTAC sets professional and laboratory standards for ART clinical practice.
- Compliance with the NHMRC's Ethical Guidelines on Assisted Reproductive Technology (2007) is a requirement for RTAC accreditation.