| Legal status |
VERY RESTRICTIVE |
| Key organization |
Ministry of Health |
| Policy |
Regulations concerning embryonic stem cells and research with embryos are incomplete and are based mainly on the Act on infertility treatment. Reproductive cloning is prohibited. |
| Regulations |
1. Regulation of the Minister of Health of October 15, 2015 on detailed requirements to be met by documentation concerning reproductive cells and embryos (Journal of Laws, item 1686);
2. Regulation of the Minister of Health of 20 October 2015 on the requirements to be met by the quality assurance system in a medically assisted procreation center and in a bank of reproductive cells and embryos (Journal of Laws, item 1727);
3. Regulation of the Minister of Health of 20 October 2015 on the register of donors of reproductive cells and embryos (Journal of Laws, item 1745);
4. Regulation of the Minister of Health of 20 October 2015 on training in the collection, processing, storage, testing and distribution of reproductive cells and embryos intended for use in the medically assisted procreation procedure (Journal of Laws, item 1740);
5. Regulation of the Minister of Health of October 21, 2015 on the unique labeling and monitoring of reproductive cells and embryos (Journal of Laws, item 1747);
6. Regulation of the Minister of Health of October 21, 2015 on the export from the territory of the Republic of Poland and import into that territory of reproductive cells and embryos (Journal of Laws, item 1748);
7. Regulation of the Minister of Health of 23 October 2015 on health requirements for a candidate for a donor of reproductive cells for partner and non-partner donation, and for a recipient of reproductive cells and embryos, and the detailed conditions for collecting reproductive cells for use in the procedure medically assisted procreation (Journal of Laws item 1718);
8. Regulation of the Minister of Health of 27 October 2015 on the conditions to be met by rooms and devices at a medically assisted procreation center (Journal of Laws, item 1750) |
| Legislation |
The Act of 25 June 2015 on infertility treatment (Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland of 31 July 2015, item 1087) |
| Legislation Link |
https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20150001087/U/D20151087Lj.pdf |
| Embryonic stem cell research policy |
There are no specific legal regulations for the use of human embryonic stem cells in scientific research. The import of hESC from abroad is not restricted in any way. |
| Research with embryo |
It is forbidden to create human embryos for purposes other than medically assisted procreation (IVF). |
| Embryo donation and cryopreservation |
Embryos and gametes may be donated (including third-party reproduction) under the requirements of the Act on infertility treatment (Chapter 4) and the Minister of Health’s Regulations enacted to the Act mentioned above.
Embryos may be cryopreserved. It is also possible to secure fertility for the future by freezing eggs, semen and ovarian tissue. Embryos may be stored in germ cells and embryos banks for up to 20 years, after which they are to be transferred for the donation if they meet two conditions cumulatively: (1) the rate and the sequence of cell division, and morphological structure make proper embryo development probable; and (2) the embryo has not been diagnosed with a defect that would result in severe and irreversible impairment or an incurable disease. |
| Somatic cell nuclear transfer |
Reproductive SCNT is explicitly forbidden. Consequently, it is not allowed to create an embryo whose genetic information in the cell nucleus is identical to the genetic material of another embryo, fetus, human, or human remains. |
| Genetic modification or selection |
It is not allowed to create chimeras and hybrids using medically assisted procreation techniques and to introduce changes in the human genome that can be passed on to the next generations.
The use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis to select phenotypic traits (including the child's sex) is only allowed when such a choice allows avoiding a severe, incurable hereditary disease. |
| Privacy and data protection |
Act on the Protection of Personal Data (2006): http://www.giodo.gov.pl/data/filemanager_en/61.doc |
