Abstract
A brief news note is provided concerning the voluntary licensing authority for human in vitro fertilization (IVF) established by the British Medical Research Council and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The authority has issued guidelines for centers offering IVF services or undertaking related research. Importantly, it has defined the term "pre-embryo" as the collection of dividing cells up to the appearance of the primitive streak. No approval will be given for research involving modification of the genetic constitution of the pre-embryo or placement of a human pre-embryo in the uterus of another species. Details of both approved and unapproved work will be made public. (KIE abstract)
