The government and the Opposition have practically agreed on all aspects of the IVF law, Justice Minister Chris Said said in parliament this evening.

Speaking during the winding up of the Bill, whose formal name if the Human Embryos Protection Bill, Dr Said said the government had agreed to drop the requirement that couples had to seek an eligibility certificate from the regulatory authority before starting IVF treatment.

He said the purpose of that requirement was to ensure that sufficient standards were observed. It would henceforth by up to doctors to ensure that couples were eligible for assisted procreation.

He said it was also agreed that counselling would be given to couples before, during and after treatment.

Dr Said said a proviso that no more than two embryos may be implanted in a woman would be retained. However there would be a protocol to specify when this number may be raised to three for one cycle.

Such circumstances may include the age of the woman and the cycles of treatment which the woman would already have endured.

The Bill is to start being debated in Committee of the Whole House on Friday morning.

The Bill was given a second reading with the government and opposition voting in favour.

ADRIAN VASSALLO VOTES AGAINST

Labour MP Adrian Vassallo voted against, saying he was against such methods of assisted procreation for ethical and moral reasons.

Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said this matter had been discussed and Dr Vassallo was not being viewed as going against the party whip.

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