The nature and legal status of foetal tissue--a ground for separate legislation?

Recently the Dutch government has submitted a Foetal Tissue Bill, containing regulations for all uses of foetal tissue. The Bill probably is to be intergrated in the future Embryo Act that is to regulate dealings with living embryos. This article focuses on the nature and legal status of foetal tissue and on the question of whether it is necessary that legislation separate from existing and future laws on the use of human tissue is necessary or desirable. It is concluded that in this context the use of foetal tissue, being the remains of a foetus that is no longer alive, should preferably not be associated with dealings with embryos but with the use of other human tissue.