New legislation to control the storage of human tissues and cells has been signed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney.
Ms Harney announced this evening she has signed regulations to transpose an EU directive on the quality and safety of tissues and cells into Irish law on April 7th.
She said the regulations lay down standards of quality and safety for human tissues and cells intended for human applications, in order to ensure a high level of protection of human health.
The regulations apply to the donation, procurement, testing, processing, preservation, storage and distribution of human tissues and cells intended for human applications and to products derived from human tissues and cells intended for human applications.
Premises storing such material will have to be inspected and authorised by the Irish Medicines Board.
The new regulations also set out the information which must be given to donors before they consent to donation, and with storage, traceability and import and export of tissues and cells.
Last month, the Irish Medicines Board confirmed it is investigating the provision of a controversial and unlicensed stem cell therapy in the Cork region.
It is understood the therapy was being offered for patients with multiple sclerosis.