News and Updates

2009
3 Sep: Minutes from Meeting held: 11 August 2009 now available

14 July: Minutes from Meeting held: 11 June 2009 now available

6 May: Minutes from Meeting held: 2 April 2009 now available

13 Mar: Updated Application Form for Ethics Approval of Surrogacy Arrangements involving Providers of Fertility Services.

13 Mar: Minutes from Meeting held 12 February 2009 now available.

Nov 2008
8 Dec: 2009 meeting dates and closing dates for applications now available.

1 Dec: Minutes from Meeting held 13 November now available.

24 Nov: ACART has issued advice to ECART on applications for combined assisted reproductive procedures.

18 Nov: Updated guidelines and application form for Embryo Donation for Reproductive Purposes.

13 Nov: At its meeting in September 2008 ACART agreed to add the following guidance to guidelines previously issued by ACART and to all future guidelines:

In these guidelines, unless the context indicates otherwise, words should be interpreted in accordance with definitions given in the HART Act 2004 and HART Order 2005.
The following guidelines have been updated to reflect this change:

Guidelines on Donation of Eggs or Sperm between Certain Family Members (November 2007)
Guidelines on Surrogacy Arrangements involving Providers of Fertility Services (November 2007)

2 Oct: Minutes from Metting held 9 Sept now available

30 July: Minutes from the meeting held on 8 July 2008 now available.

12 June: A sample Legal Report for Surrogacy Arrangements is now available on this website. This legal report is an example of the information that ECART would like to receive in Surrogacy applications, and the issues that should be covered by the legal advisor.

2007
30 Nov: Nominations for members of the Ethics Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ECART)
The Ministry of Health is currently seeking nominations and applications for members of the Ethics Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ECART), on behalf of the Minister of Health. These appointments are for 2008, the process has begun early due to the election next year. Applications closed on 3 January 2008.

22 Nov: ACART has issued new guidelines to ECART on Surrogacy Arrangements involving Providers of Fertility Services and Donation of Eggs or Sperm between Certain Family Members.
These Guidelines come into effect on 22 November 2007 and replace the Guidelines on IVF Surrogacy and Within-family Gamete Donation.

Oct: ECART Annual Report 2006/07
The Annual Report 2006/07 of the Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ACART) has been released by the Minister of Health. ECART's Annual Report is appended to the ACART report from page 34 (Part Two).

6 July: Advice on Aspects of Assisted Reproductive Technology: A Consultation Paper on Policy Issues (www.acart.health.govt.nz)
This consultation paper from the Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology outlines the use of a range of reproductive technologies in New Zealand, and seeks public comment on the direction of future policy in these areas. The closing date for submissions is 17 August 2007.

Feb: ECART Annual Report 2005/06
The Annual Report 2005/06 of the Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ACART) has been released by the Minister of Health. ECART's Annual Report is appended to the ACART report from page 27 (Appendix 5).

New Committee Members Sought

The Ministry of Health is currently seeking nominations for members of the Ethics Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology. Vacancies exist for three members: 1. A member who is an expert in assisted reproductive procedures; 2. A Māori member with a recognised awareness of te reo Māori and an understanding of Tikanga Māori; 3. A member with the ability to articulate issues from a consumer perspective. Applications for these vacancies have closed.

Page last updated: 3 September 2009