New Zealand Ministry Releases Draft Guidelines

New Zealand Ministry Releases Draft Guidelines

The New Zealand Ministry of Health has release draft guidelines for research with human embryonic stem cells and is inviting comment. According to Scoop,

The draft guidelines include provisions around ethical review; provisions associated with the way in which human embryonic stem cell lines are established; provisions relating to the proposed use of established human embryonic stem cell lines and duties of ethics committees. The closing date for submissions on the draft guidelines is Friday 3 March 2006.

There is not currently hESC research in New Zealand, and the new guidelines would allow it in limited form.

The news article follows up the news with a Q&A on stem cells and on the guidelines and New Zealand issues, especially related to the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act of 2004.

The news is also reported in the New Zealand Herald, which includes quotations from people on both sides of the debate.