Singapore

Singapore Information Region Asia Population 4680600 GDP (millions USD) 161349 National Policies Eggs for assisted reproduction commercial prohibited Eggs for research commercial prohibited Inheritable genetic modification ? Preimplantation genetic diagnosis social uses prohibited Reproductive cloning PROHIBITED Research cloning regulated Sex selection Social uses prohibited Surrogacy PROHIBITED International Agreements 2005 UN Cloning Vote no 2005 UNESCO Sports Doping Convention RATIFIED

Key laws and policies

• Human Cloning and Other Prohibited Practices Act (September 2, 2004)
• National Medical Ethics Committee, Ethical Guidelines for Gene Technology (2001)
• Bioethics Advisory Committee of Singapore, Genetic Testing and Genetic Research (2005)
• Ministry of Health, Licensing & Accreditation Branch, Directives for Private Healthcare Institutions Providing Assisted Reproduction Services: Regulation 4 of the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Regulations (CAP 248, Reg 1), (March 2006)

• Status of Children (Assisted Reproduction Technology) Act 2013

Prohibited practices

Reproductive Cloning

• Reproductive cloning is prohibited by the Human Cloning and Other Prohibited Practices Act.

Surrogacy

• The Directives for Private Healthcare Institutions Providing Assisted Reproduction Services prohibit surrogacy.

Commercial Payments

• Payment for eggs is prohibited.

Permitted and regulated practices

Assisted Reproduction

• IVF and other ARTs are widely available and government subsidized.
• Gamete and embryo donation is permitted but may only be used by married couples.

Egg Donation

• The Human Cloning and Other Prohibited Practices Act and the Directives for Private Healthcare Institutions Providing Assisted Reproduction Services permit providing eggs, but prohibit payments.
• Egg donors must be less than 35 years old.

Sex Selection

• The Directives for Private Healthcare Institutions Providing Assisted Reproduction Services permit sex selection only for medical purposes.

Creation of Embryos

The "Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Human Stem Cell Research, Reproductive and Therapeutic Cloning" states that the creation of human embryos either through IVF or SCNT for research purposes can only be justified where:

• There is strong scientific merit in, and potential medical benefit from, such research.
• No acceptable alternative exists.
• On a highly selective, case-by-case basis, with specific approval from the proposed statutory body.

Regulatory activities

The Human Cloning and Other Prohibited Practices Act authorizes government enforcement agencies to inspect relevant premises.

See also: Singapore Bioethics Advisory Committee, "Donation Of Human Eggs For Research: A Consultation Paper" (November 7, 2007).