About us

The Ethics Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ECART) considers, determines and monitors applications made by fertility clinics for certain assisted reproductive procedures and human reproductive research.

ECART can only consider applications for procedures that the Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ACART) has issued guidelines and advice for. Established procedures do not need ethical approval from ECART.

ECART considerations for review
ECART review required	No ECART review required
Clinic-Assisted Surrogacy	Artificial Insemination
Donation of Eggs or Sperm between Certain Family members	Collection of Eggs or Sperm for the Purposes of Donation
Embryo Donation for Reproductive purposes	Egg and Embryo Cryopreservation
Creation and Use, for Reproductive Purposes, of an Embryo Created with Donated Eggs and Donated Sperm	In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) with Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Tissue Typing	Ovarian Tissue and Sperm Cryopreservation
Research on Gametes and Non-Viable Embryos	Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

ECART’s work is guided by the HART Act(external link) principles–

Importance of the health and well-being of children
Promoting and preserving human health, safety and dignity of present and future generations
Importance of informed consent
Awareness of, and accessibility to, information about a child’s genetic origins
Respect and consideration for Māori needs, values and beliefs
Respect and consideration for different ethical, spiritual and cultural perspectives.

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