Terms of reference

Aim

The aim of the Consortium is to bring together national ART regulators and practitioners within the European Union for professional cooperation and joint action.

Objectives

• To provide an organisational framework for developing and presenting joint positions to the European Commission on matters concerning the regulation of assisted reproduction services in the EU;
  
  
• To share learning during implementation of the EU Tissue & Cells Directive and to develop solutions to common problems where possible;
  
  
• To help improve consistency and share best practice approaches to promoting safety and quality through open communication between member states;
  
  
• To address the need for continual improvements in meeting and exceeding the requirements of the Directive, and to cooperate in the development of an evidence base to support new measures;
  
  
• To provide advice to member states setting up a competent (ie regulatory) authority.
  
  
• To develop position papers / archives / newsletter/ annual report on scientific, legal, regulatory, ethical issues concerning tissues and cells involved in assisted reproduction and referred to by the Directive

The EACC’s status as a policy making and representative body derives from:

• the standing of its members, either as nationally-appointed regulators or as professional representatives;
  
  
• the ability of its members to take decisions on, or influence, the implementation of European regulation within their home countries;
  
  
• the combined expertise of its members, and the unique ability of the EACC to bring together both the regulatory and ‘front line’ perspectives;
  
  
• the continued strong association with ESHRE.
  

Membership

Membership will be limited to a maximum of three members from each EU member state – a representative of the relevant regulatory authority, a clinician and an embryologist.

Members may be nominated to sit on the Executive and/or to participate in working groups to address particular issues.

A patient representative will be invited to observe at EACC meetings.

Meetings

The Consortium as a whole will meet twice a year, once at the annual ESHRE meeting.   Other meetings may be organised to discuss specific issues.  Routine business will be conducted by email correspondence.

The Executive will meet more frequently as business dictates.

Organisation

Executive

Members of the Consortium will nominate every two years a five person executive committee, consisting of a chair, three practitioners and one regulator, to develop and co-ordinate the Consortium’s work plan and to represent the Consortium in discussions with the European Commission. 

Secretariat

A secretariat function will be funded by ESHRE. 

Relationship with ESHRE

The EACC’s policy and decision making process will operate independently of ESHRE.   However, policy decisions taken by the EACC will be communicated to the ESHRE Executive.  The EACC and ESHRE Executives will also work together to ensure consistency of policy making and clarity of approach between the two bodies.   This will be facilitated by common membership between the two Executives.

Financial Support

ESHRE will support the Consortium financially for the first 18 months of its existence, whilst it is in the process of becoming fully established.  However, during this period, Consortium members representing regulatory bodies will be expected to fund their own attendance at meetings.   For the longer term, the Consortium Executive will develop proposals for the introduction of an annual membership fee to cover its costs.