Legal Issues
Global
Because therapeutic cloning (and cloning in general) is a very controversial topic, many countries have laws which limit or prohibit the use of the process. Some countries have banned any type of cloning including reproductive and therapeutic, while other countries have legalised research into therapeutic cloning.(Mathews 2007) Countries which allow research and application of therapeutic cloning includes China, Belgium, Columbia, Finland, New Zealand, Israel, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United stated. In some countries such as the United States of America, even though therapeutic cloning research is legal, it is not federally funded.(GE 2001) In other Nations such as the United Kingdom, which was the first country to legalise cloning for stem cell research in 2001, those wishing to use somatic cell nuclear transfer technology/ therapeutic cloning must gain permission from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.(GE 2001)
Because therapeutic cloning (and cloning in general) is a very controversial topic, many countries have laws which limit or prohibit the use of the process. Some countries have banned any type of cloning including reproductive and therapeutic, while other countries have legalised research into therapeutic cloning.(Mathews 2007) Countries which allow research and application of therapeutic cloning includes China, Belgium, Columbia, Finland, New Zealand, Israel, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United stated. In some countries such as the United States of America, even though therapeutic cloning research is legal, it is not federally funded.(GE 2001) In other Nations such as the United Kingdom, which was the first country to legalise cloning for stem cell research in 2001, those wishing to use somatic cell nuclear transfer technology/ therapeutic cloning must gain permission from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.(GE 2001)
Australia
In Australia, therapeutic cloning, for the the sole purpose of creating embryos for research was banned under the Research Involving Human Embryo Act 2002.(Kinnear J.K, Martin M.M 2006) In 2006, the four year ban was lifted. Therapeutic cloning research has been legal in some Australian states, including Victoria and Queensland, since 2006 under the Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction and the Regulation of Human Embryo Research Amendment Act 2006. Any Australian researchers wishing to use therapeutic cloning must apply to the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for a licence. (Anon 2006)
In Australia, therapeutic cloning, for the the sole purpose of creating embryos for research was banned under the Research Involving Human Embryo Act 2002.(Kinnear J.K, Martin M.M 2006) In 2006, the four year ban was lifted. Therapeutic cloning research has been legal in some Australian states, including Victoria and Queensland, since 2006 under the Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction and the Regulation of Human Embryo Research Amendment Act 2006. Any Australian researchers wishing to use therapeutic cloning must apply to the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for a licence. (Anon 2006)