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Assisted human reproduction

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Assisted human reproduction in Canada

The

Assisted Human Reproduction Act

Strengthening the

Assisted Human Reproduction Act

Consultations

Transitional

Compliance and Enforcement

Contact us

Assisted human reproduction in Canada

Canadians experiencing infertility, single parents, and same-sex couples are increasingly turning to assisted human reproduction (AHR) procedures to help build their families.

Health Canada is responsible for developing policy and regulations under the

Assisted Human Reproduction Act

(AHR Act). We administer and enforce the Act and its regulations.

The AHR Act received Royal Assent in 2004 and was designed to protect and promote the health, safety, dignity, and rights of Canadians who use or are born of AHR technology. The AHR Act achieves this purpose by setting out prohibited activities related to assisted human reproduction that may pose significant human health and safety risks to Canadians or that are deemed to be ethically unacceptable or incompatible with Canadian values.

The

Assisted Human Reproduction Act

Legislation

Assisted Human Reproduction Act

Regulations

Safety of Sperm and Ova Regulations

Reimbursement Related to Assisted Human Reproduction Regulations

Administration and Enforcement (Assisted Human Reproduction Act) Regulations

Assisted Human Reproduction

(Section 8 Consent)

Regulations

Health Canada Directive

Technical Requirements for Conducting the Suitability Assessment of Sperm and Ova Donors

Guidance Documents

Guidance on interim enforcement approach for directed donations of sperm and ova

Guidance Document: Interim Compliance Approach Regarding Donor Ova Processed Prior to February 4, 2020

Guidance Document - Safety of Sperm and Ova Regulations

Guidance Document - Reimbursement Related to Assisted Human Reproduction Regulations

Fact Sheets

Prohibitions related to scientific research and clinical applications

Prohibitions related to Purchasing Reproductive Material and Purchasing or Selling In Vitro Embryos

Prohibitions related to Surrogacy

Consent to Use Human Reproductive Material and In Vitro Embryos

Strengthening the

Assisted Human Reproduction Act

In 2016, recognizing the need to strengthen the federal regulatory framework governing AHR in Canada, Health Canada announced its intention to bring into force sections 10 (safety of donor sperm and ova), 12 (reimbursement) and 45 to 58 (administration and enforcement) of the AHR Act and to develop the necessary supporting regulations. Those regulations were published in

Canada Gazette

, Part II

on June 26, 2019.

Sections 45 to 58 of the AHR Act came into force on June 9, 2019, along with the

Administration and Enforcement

(

Assisted Human Reproduction Act

)

Regulations

.

Section 10 of the AHR Act came into force on February 4, 2020, along with most provisions of the

Safety of Sperm and Ova Regulations

. The Health Canada Directive entitled "Technical Requirements for Conducting the Suitability Assessment of Sperm and Ova Donors, which has been incorporated by reference into these regulations, also took effect on that date.

Section 12 of the AHR Act came into force on June 9, 2020, along with the

Reimbursement Related to Assisted Human Reproduction Regulations

.

Consultations

Past Consultations

October 2016:

Notice of Intent

July 2017:

Strengthening the

Assisted Human Reproduction Act

October 2018:

Consultation on the proposed AHR regulations

June 2019:

Consultation on draft Guidance Document:

Safety of Sperm and Ova Regulations

June 2019:

Consultation on draft Guidance Document:

Reimbursement Related to Assisted Human Reproduction Regulations

Transitional

While no longer in force, information from the following sources may be needed to determine whether sperm processed prior to the coming into force of the Safety of Sperm and Ova Regulations may be distributed, imported or used:

Processing and Distribution of Semen for Assisted Conception Regulations

Health Canada Directive: Technical Requirements for Therapeutic Donor Insemination

For more information about the Transitional Provisions in the Safety of Sperm and Ova Regulations, please consult the

Guidance Document - Safety of Sperm and Ova Regulations

.

Compliance and Enforcement

For information on compliance and enforcement of the AHR Act and its regulations, as well as how to submit a formal complaint, please visit the

Compliance and Enforcement page

.

Contact us

If you have a question about the Assisted Human Reproduction Act you can contact Health Canada in one of the following ways:

Office of Policy and International Collaboration

Health Products and Food Branch

Health Canada

Address Locator: 0601B

100 Eglantine Driveway

Ottawa, ON

K1A 0K9

Email:

hc.bgtd.ahr-pa.dpbtg.sc@canada.ca

Telephone: 613-957-2991

Toll free: 1-866-225-0709

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2024-05-29