ART Bill proposes national registry of clinics-THE HINDU-20-02-2020

Details:

1. The Bill, called the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Regulation Bill, 2020, intends to regulate
ART clinics with the objective of providing “safe and ethical” reproductive procedures to infertile couples.

2. The Bill provides for a national Board which will lay down a code of conduct to be observed by those
operating clinics.

3.It will also formulate minimum standards for laboratory and diagnostic equipment and practices to be
followed by human resources employed by clinics and banks.

4.Under the proposed law, a national registry and registration authority will maintain a database to assist
the National Board to perform its functions, according to a statement issued by the Health and Family
Welfare Ministry.

5.The States and Union Territories will also have to form State Boards and State authorities within three
months of the notification of the proposed legislation.

6.The Bill also proposes stringent punishment for those who practise sex selection, indulge in sale of
human embryos or gametes and those who operate rackets.