3.1 World cloning policies

North america

United states

• Officially, embryonic stem cell research, therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning are legal as there is currently no federal regulation or policies overseeing it.
• Reproductive and therapeutic cloning are specifically not federally funded. However, research on human embryonic stem cells is federally funded if these cell lines were created before August 9, 2001. Private industry research is not affected by these policies and is allowed to proceed with the creation of new stem cell lines.
• Some individual states have made their own laws against reproductive and/or therapeutic cloning. (See State Cloning Legislation module)

Canada

• Embryonic stem cell research is permitted, but reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning are banned.
• Researchers can use an embryo from IVF if it is no longer needed for reproductive purposes and consent is given by the donor. Creating a human clone is restricted to improving or providing instruction in assisted reproduction procedures.

Costa rica

• Embryonic stem cell research, as well as therapeutic and reproductive cloning, is banned.

• Any manipulation of an embryo's genetic code is prohibited, as well as any experimentation on the embryo (two laws as of 1995 and 1998).

Panama

• Embryonic stem cell research is not specifically prohibited, but therapeutic and reproductive cloning and the funding of such activities are as of 2004.

Trinidad and tobago

• Embryonic stem cell research as well as therapeutic and reproductive cloning is banned.
• The law states that the manipulation of ovum , zygotes , and/or embryos for the purpose of producing one that is genetically equivalent to a living or deceased human being, embryo, zygote, or fetus -- or implantation of this -- is prohibited. The ovum may not be retrieved to be fertilized, to mature outside of the human body, or to be implanted (as of 1999).

El salvador

• Embryonic stem cell research as well as therapeutic and reproductive cloning is banned.

South america

Argentina

• Embryonic stem cell research is permitted, but all forms of cloning (reproductive and therapeutic) are banned.
• The law specifically states that experiments concerning cloning of human cells in order to generate human beings are prohibited.

Brazil

• Embryonic stem cell research is allowed on IVF embryos that have been frozen for at least three years. Therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning are banned (Bio-Safety Law, March 24, 2005).

Chile

• Embryonic stem cell research is not specifically prohibited, but therapeutic and reproductive cloning and the funding of such activities are.
• The law states that the cloning of human beings and interventions which results in the creation of a human being genetically identical to another is prohibited.

Columbia

• Embryonic stem cell research and therapeutic cloning are permitted, but reproductive cloning is banned.
• The criminal code (2000) prohibits fertilization of a human ovum with intent other than procreation and prohibits genetic manipulation for the purpose of reproductive cloning. The code does allow the fertilization of human ova for research and diagnostic purposes, if there is a therapeutic goal.