The Government and the Opposition were in total agreement on the Bill protecting human embryos except for the proposed limit of two fertilised eggs implanted in each cycle, Justice Minister Chris Said told Parliament last night.

Speaking during the winding up of the Human Embryos Protection Bill, the minister said the Government had agreed to drop the requirement that couples seek an eligibility certificate from the regulatory authority before starting IVF treatment.

Both the Opposition and independent MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando had opposed this provision.

Dr Said said the requirement’s purpose had been to ensure that adequate standards were observed. It would be up to doctors to ensure that couples were eligible for assisted procreation. The Government was against the Big Brother attitude but the authority would investigate cases of suspected abuse.

Counselling would be given to couples before, during and after treatment.

However, the proviso that no more than two embryos may be implanted in a woman would be retained.

The Opposition did not want the legislation to specify the number of implanted eggs and had proposed a protocol, with the consultant given the responsibility to decide.

The minister said the Government would maintain the limit of fertilised eggs with a proviso that in exceptional cases three eggs could be fertilised under a protocol still to be established by the regulatory authority. Stakeholders would be consulted on this protocol.

He said the paediatricians’ and midwives’ associations had written to MPs asking them to limit the number to a maximum of two to avoid risks to mothers and newborn infants.

Earlier, the minister said that both sides were in agreement on all the general principles including protection for life from the very start, giving the opportunity to couples to have recourse to IVF procedures and regulating against any form of abuse. The two sides also agreed on 15 other principles so that there was now a very wide consensus on the Bill.

These principles included acceptance of oocyte vitrification, matters that were considered illegal and the application of sanctions.

Malta, said Mr Said, was working to become a centre of excellence in this technology. He insisted that children born through the IVF procedure were to be considered and registered as having been born naturally.

Clinics were to be licensed under existing legislation, avoiding the creation of another licensing body.

The Bill was approved in second reading, with Labour MP Adrian Vassallo voting against for moral and ethical reasons. He said it was untrue that human life was being protected because the implantation of embryos also meant that many died.

IVF was not a natural process, and children born under this method would be at greater risk of handicaps than those born naturally.

Leader of the Opposition Joseph Muscat declared that Dr Vassallo’s decision had been taken in conformity with his conscience and did not infringe party whip instructions.

Party whips David Agius (PN) and Joe Mizzi (PL) confirmed agreement that the committee stage was to be conducted in plenary session, starting on Friday morning.

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