Explanatory note

This Order brings into force on 7th November 1990 those provisions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 which relate to the setting up of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority established by the Act, and to the offence of disclosure of certain confidential information by members or employees of the Authority, together with related provisions about enforcement. It also brings into force on the same date the provision of the Act dealing with the preparation of the Authority’s Code of Practice.

This Order also brings into force on the same date amendments to the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985 (c. 49). The amendments make clear that surrogacy arrangements are unenforceable, and also alter the definition in that Act of the time at which a woman begins to carry a child in order to take account of new techniques in infertility treatment.