Canada
The Assisted Human Reproductive Agency of Canada takes care of the use of stem cells from in vitro embryos. The embryonic stem cells may be used for research, but there are strict conditions governing their use. The stem cells must be derived from an embryo that was created in vitro for the purpose of reproduction, but is no longer needed. The in vitro embryo must be necessary for the research. That is, the research could not simply be done using adult stem cells. The researchers must have fully informed written consent from the donors of the embryo as well as the donors of the gametes used to create it. The embryo must never have been purchased, sold, or advertised for sale. The researchers must also have a licence from the Agency for each separate research project they undertake. (Health Canada, 2004)
United States
The United States allows stem cell research and even provides federal funds for it based on certain guidelines. The President, George Bush, announced the following guidelines on August 9, 2001. Firstly, as in Canada the embryo must have been one that was created and is no longer needed for in vitro fertilization. The donors of the embryo must have given consent for the embryo to be used for the purpose of stem cell research. There must have been no money involved in the donation of the embryo. Also, in this case the process to obtain the embryonic stem cells, which begins with the destruction of the embryo must have begun before August 9, 2001, the time of the announcement. If the stem cell research meets all of the above conditions it may receive federal funding. In the United States the National Institute of Health oversees the enforcement of these requirements. (National Institute of Health & U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Federal policy, 2006)
Australia
In Australia there are slightly stricter rules on the use of embryos for stem cell research. Firstly according to the Australian Research Involving Embryos Bill of 2002, only excess in vitro fertilization embryos that were existing before April 5, 2002 may be used for stem cell research. Also, according to the Australian Prohibition of Human Cloning Bill of 2002, the method of somatic cell nuclear transfer may not be used to obtain human embryonic stem cells, since it is classified as human cloning. (Australia, Department of the Parliamentary Library, Rickard, 2002)
