[Legislative framework of embryo research]

The French bioethics law promulgated in 1994 and still in force prohibits nearly all forms of research on the human embryo. However, the concept of the patient-embryo developed in this discussion demonstrates that it is medically mandatory to proceed with such research. The project presented by the government in accordance with the obligatory revision of the 1994 law which was adopted by the Parliament in January 2002 accepts the principle of research on the embryo and embryo cells. An Agency for embryology, human reproduction, and human genetics (APEGH) will be in charge of controlling these activities.