New Regulations on importing gametes or embryos from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Gibraltar.
On 17th April 2018, we implemented a new EU Directive on the importation of sperm and eggs (“gametes”), and embryos, from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Gibraltar.
This EU Directive, which does not apply to imports from other EEA countries, was developed to ensure the quality and safety of tissues and cells being imported into the UK from a “third country supplier” – defined as any country that is outside of the EU, EEA and Gibraltar.
In relation to IVF, this means that imported gametes or embryos for a patient’s treatment must meet UK safety and quality standards around the testing, transportation and procurement of gametes.
In practice, this means that a clinic wishing to import from a third country supplier will need to apply to the HFEA for a certificate. As part of this process, the UK clinic will need to provide documents that guarantee the third country supplier meets UK quality and safety standards. If a clinic imports gametes or embryos without this certificate they will be non-compliant.
Because of the new procedure that is in place, there may be a delay in processing your application. If all the correct information is supplied by your clinic, then the application should be processed within 2 – 3 months.
We apologise for any delay to your treatment during this transitional period, and are doing all we can to process applications as quickly as possible.
If you are unsure of what these new rules mean for your treatment, we suggest that you speak with your clinic first. If you have further questions after that you can contact us at: enquiriesteam@hfea.gov.uk.
Clinics approved to import from third country suppliers
|
Centre |
Tissues/Cells to be imported |
Third country supplier |
|
Andrology Solutions |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Bath Fertility Centre |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Barts Health Centre for Reproductive Medicine |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Barts Health Centre for Reproductive Medicine |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Boston Place |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Bourn Hall Clinic |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
|
Bourn Hall Clinic |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
|
Bourn Hall Clinic |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Bourn Hall (Norwich) Limited |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
|
Bourn Hall (Norwich) Limited |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Bourn Hall Clinic (Wickford) |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
|
Bourn Hall Clinic (Wickford) |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
| Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Cambridge IVF |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Cambridge IVF |
Oocyte |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
CARE Bath |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
CARE Fertility Birmingham |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
CARE Fertility Birmingham |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
CARE London |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
CARE London |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
CARE Manchester |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
CARE Manchester |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
CARE Northampton |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
CARE Northampton |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
CARE Nottingham |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
CARE Nottingham |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
CARE Sheffield |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
CARE Sheffield |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
CARE Tunbridge Wells |
Sperm |
California Cryobank |
|
CARE Tunbridge Wells |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Centre for Reproduction & Gynaecology, Wales |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Centre for Reproduction & Gynaecology, Wales |
Oocyte |
Manor IVF working with Reproductive Genetics Clinic 'Victoria' |
| Centre for Reproduction and Gynaecology Wales and West |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
| Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Coventry |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Chelsea & Westminster Hospital |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Chelsea & Westminster Hospital |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
| City Fertility |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
| City Fertility |
Oocyte Embryo |
Reproductive Genetics Clinic Victoria |
| City Fertility |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Countess of Chester Hospital |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Create Fertility, Birmingham |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Create Fertility, Birmingham |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Create Fertility, Birmingham |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
|
Create Fertility, Bristol |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Create Fertility, Bristol |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Create Fertility, Bristol |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Create Fertility, London St Paul’s |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Create Fertility, London St Paul’s |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Create Fertility, London St Paul’s |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
|
Create Fertility, London Wimbledon |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Create Fertility, London Wimbledon |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Create Fertility, London Wimbledon |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
|
Create Fertility, Manchester |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Create Fertility, Manchester |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Create Fertility, Manchester |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
|
Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
| Fertility Exeter | Sperm | Xytex Inc |
|
GCRM Fertility |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
GCRM – Belfast Centre |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Guys Hospital |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
|
Guys Hospital |
Sperm |
California Cryobank |
|
Guys Hospital |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Harley Street Fertility Clinic |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Harley Street Fertility Clinic |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
| Herts and Essex Fertility Centre |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Hewitt Fertility Centre |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Homerton Fertility Centre |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
IVI Midland |
Sperm |
California Cryobank |
| IVI Midland | Sperm | Xytex Cryo International |
|
IVI London (Wimpole Street) |
Sperm |
California Cryobank |
|
IVI London (Wimpole Street) |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Jessop Fertility |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
| King's Fertility |
Sperm |
California Cryobank |
| King's Fertility |
Oocyte |
Hong Kong Reproductive Medicine Centre |
| King's Fertility |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Leeds Fertility |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
| Leeds Fertility |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Lister Fertility Centre |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Lister Fertility Centre |
Oocyte |
Intersono – First Egg Bank |
|
London Fertility Centre |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
London Fertility Centre |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
London Fertility Centre |
Oocyte |
IVF Centre Pedieos |
|
London Women's Clinic |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
London Women's Clinic |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
|
London Women's Clinic, Wales |
Sperm | Xytex Cryo International |
|
London Women's Clinic, Wales |
Sperm | Fairfax Cryobank |
|
London Sperm Bank |
Sperm | Seattle Sperm Bank |
|
Manchester Fertility |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
| Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life |
Embryo Oocyte Sperm |
NYU - Fertility Centre |
| Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
| Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
| NewLife Fertility Centre | Sperm | Xytex Cryo International |
|
Nuffield Health Woking Hospital |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
| Regional Fertility Centre |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Reproductive Genetics Institute |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Reproductive Genetics Institute |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Shropshire & Mid-Wales Fertility Centre |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Simply Fertility |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
St Mary’s Hospital |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
|
Thames Valley Fertility |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Thames Valley Fertility |
Sperm |
California Cryobank |
| The Agora Gynaecology and Fertility Centre |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
| The Bridge Centre |
Sperm |
Seattle Sperm Bank |
|
The Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
The Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
|
The Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
| The Evewell | Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
| The Evewell | Sperm | Xytex Cryo International |
| The Fertility & Gynaecology Academy | Sperm | Xytex Cryo International |
| The Gateshead Fertility Unit | Sperm | Xytex Cryo International |
|
Wales Fertility Institute – Cardiff |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
| Wales Fertility Institute – Cardiff |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Wales Fertility Institute – Neath |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Wales Fertility Institute - Neath |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Wessex Fertility Limited |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
|
Wessex Fertility Limited |
Sperm |
Fairfax Cryobank |
|
Wolfson Fertility Centre |
Sperm |
California Cryobank LLC |
|
Wolfson Fertility Centre |
Sperm |
Xytex Cryo International |
Publication date: 6 January 2021
Review date: 6 January 2023
