BioCentury
ARTICLE | Politics & Policy

U.K. to ban human cloning by law

April 19, 2001 7:00 AM UTC

The British government announced plans on Thursday to ban human reproductive cloning in the U.K. by law, in an attempt to allay public concerns. Speaking to scientists and doctors at the Institute of Human Genetics, International Centre for Life (Newcastle Upon Tyne, U.K.), Secretary of State for Health Alan Milburn said "human cloning should be banned by law, not just by license. I can confirm today then that the Government will legislate in the near future to explicitly ban human reproductive cloning in the U.K."

Milburn said the move would extend the existing U.K. ban on human reproductive cloning, under which the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority will not license the procedure. That ban is welcome, he said, but "I believe we need to go further to offer an unequivocal assurance to the public." ...