ASIA
China
�
�Guidelines on Assisted
Reproductive Technologies for Human Beings, Ministry of Public Health, October
2003.
Par. 3.7, 3.15: �The
performance of cytoplasm transfer and germinal vesicle transfer for infertility
treatment is forbidden and the (reproductive) cloning of human beings is
prohibited� (unofficial translation).
�
�Ethical Principles on Assisted
Reproductive Technologies for Human Beings and Human Sperm Bank�, Ministry of
Health, August 2003.
Par. 1.3.g �cytoplasm
transfer and germinal vesicle transfer should not be allowed for infertility
treatment before the problem of safety is resolved.�
Under the guidelines
research for therapeutic purposes is allowed.
�
The Human Reproductive Technology
Ordinance, An Ordinance No. 47 (Amended 2002).
China, The Government of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region (Gazette, Legal Supplement No. 1 to No. 26, Vol.
4, 30 June 2000, pp. A1691-A1777)
Section 15: �No person
shall (�) (a) for the purpose of embryo research � (i) bring about the
creation of an embryo; (e) replace the nucleus of a cell of an embryo with a
nucleus taken from any other cell; (f) or clone any embryo.�
India
�
Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR), Consultative Document on Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research on
Human Subjects (2000).
The section dealing with
genetics states: �Since its safety, success, utility and ethical acceptability
is not yet established, research on cloning (through nuclear transplantation or
embryo splitting) with intent to produce an identical human being, as of today,
is prohibited.�
http://icmr.nic.in/ethical.pdf
�
ICMR also issued the �Statement
of Specific Principles on Human Genetics Research�, 20 July 2000. http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/Draft/specifi.htm
Japan
�
The �Law concerning Regulation
Relating to Human Cloning Techniques and Other Similar Techniques�, November
2000, in effect since June 2001.
English version available: http://www.mext.go.jp/english/index.htm
The Japanese law prohibits
the transfer of embryos created by techniques of human cloning, and those
created by xenotransplantation. However, it allows the application of these
techniques and other similar ones for research purposes as long as the embryo
created is not allowed to be transplanted in a human or an animal. It also
imposes criminal sanctions. It also imposes criminal sanction.
�
Guidelines to the �Law
concerning Regulation Relating to Human Cloning Techniques and Other Similar
Techniques�, December 4 2001, Minister of Education and Science http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shinkou/seimei/2001/hai3/17_shishin.pdf
(in Japanese)
Regulates the production of cloned embryos and embryo research.
�
Commentaries to the Guidelines
mentioned above by the Ministry of Education and Science
http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shinkou/seimei/2001/hai3/20_shishin.pdf
(in Japanese)
Republic of South Korea
�
Life Ethics Law, January 29 2004.
Strictly prohibit
reproductive cloning under any circumstances, subject to criminal sanctions for
up to ten years in prison. However, the government will approve limited research
on somatic cell nuclear transfer based on the guidelines drawn up by the
National Ethics Committees.
Singapore
Bioethics
Advisory Committee of Singapore (BAC), Report on �Ethical, Legal and Social
Issues in Human Stem Cell Research, Reproductive and Therapeutic Cloning� (21
June 2002)
Recommendation # 7:
�There should be a complete ban on the implantation of a human embryo created
by the application of cloning technology into a womb, or any treatment of a
human embryo intended to result in its development into a viable infant.�
The report also concluded
that creation of human embryos either by IVF or by SCNT for research purposes
can only be justified where (1) there is strong scientific merit in, and
potential medical benefit from, such research; (2) no acceptable alternative
exists, and (3) on a highly selective, case-by-case basis, with specific
approval from the proposed statutory body.
On 18 July 2002, the government has approved the BAC recommendations.
http://www.bioethics-singapore.org/bac/upload/pdf/206report.pdf
Thailand
�
Regulations on Human Cloning No.
21/2544, Medical Council of Thailand June 2002.
�
Stem Cell Guidelines, Bioethics
and Advanced Biomedical Research Project managed by the National center for
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) and the National Health
Foundation (NHF)
Both
guidelines prohibit human reproductive cloning. (Unesco, Division on Ethics and
Technology, April 2004)
Vietnam
� Government Decree banning human cloning and surrogacy, May 2003.