The purpose of the Act is to provide a consistent legislative framework for issues relating to whole body donation and the taking, storage and use of human organs and tissue. It makes consent the fundamental principle underpinning the lawful storage and use of human bodies, body parts, organs and tissue and the removal of material from the bodies of deceased persons.

The Act, by establishing the Human Tissue Authority, will set up an over-arching body which is intended to rationalise existing regulation of activities like transplantation and anatomical examination, and introduce regulation of other activities like postmortem examinations, and the storage of human material for education, training and research. It is intended to achieve a balance between the rights and expectations of individuals and families, and broader considerations, such as the importance of research, education, training, pathology and public health surveillance to the population as a whole.

The HTA’s revised codes of practice come into force on the 15th September 2009

The codes of practice provide guidance and lay down expected standards for each of the sectors we regulate. The revised codes are designed to support professionals by giving advice and guidance based on real-life experience. The codes were approved by Parliament in July 2009.

Seven of the codes have been revised to reflect the HTA’s experience of regulation and an entirely new code on research has also been produced.

The new codes are available in an interactive format that provides user-friendly online access, that includes links to other relevant issues and documents and a pop-up glossary. You can also print entire codes and individual sections in pdf format.

Access the revised codes: http://www.hta.gov.uk/legislationpoliciesandcodesofpractice/codesofpractice.cfm

 

For the Human Tissue Act in full, click here

There is also a Human Tissue Act Clarification Document available. To view this, click here

For more information click here

MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT: Relating to the transfer of tissues relevant to the Human Tissue Act 2004, click here

MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT: Relating to the transfer of biological material that is not regulated by the Human Tissue Act 2004, click here