Human Tissue Authority

Human Tissue Authority

Non-departmental public bodyoverview
Formed	1 April 2005
Parent department	Department of Health and Social Care
Website	www.hta.gov.uk

TheHuman Tissue Authority(HTA) is an executivenon-departmental public bodyof theDepartment of Health and Social Carein theUnited Kingdom.It regulates the removal, storage, use and disposal of human bodies, organs and tissue for a number of scheduled purposes such as research, transplantation, and education and training.

It was created by theHuman Tissue Act 2004and came into being on 1 April 2005 and its statutory functions began on 1 April 2006. The Board was originally chaired byBaroness Haymanfollowed, in 2006, by Shirley Harrison, from January 2010 to 2018 by BaronessDiana Warwick,from March 2018 to January 2019 by BaronessNicola Blackwoodand since November 2019 by Lynne Berry CBE.

The HTA's aim is to build on the confidence people have in its regulation by ensuring that human tissue and organs are used safely and ethically, and with proper consent.

It also acts as the UK competent authority under theEUTissue and CellsDirectivesand the EU Organ Donation Directive.

The Human Tissue Act

Main article:Human Tissue Act 2004

The Human Tissue Act 2004 repeals and replaces the Human Tissue Act 1961, the Anatomy Act 1984 and the Human Organ Transplants Act 1989 as they relate to England and Wales, and the corresponding Orders in Northern Ireland. TheULTRA (UK agency)and the post of HM Inspector of Anatomy were abolished and their functions transferred to the Authority.

The Act makesconsentthe fundamental principle underpinning the lawful storage and use of body parts, organs and tissue from the living or the deceased for specified health-related purposes and public display. It also covers the removal of such material from the deceased. It lists the purposes for which consent is required (thescheduled purposes).

The Act notably prohibited private individuals from covertly collecting biological samples, such as hair and fingernails, forDNA analysis,but excluded medical and criminal investigations from the offence.

Jurisdiction and composition

The act governs England, Wales and Northern Ireland. There is separate legislation in Scotland, theHuman Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006and the authority performs certain tasks on behalf of theScottish Government(approval of living donation and licensing of establishments storing tissue for human application).

The Board consists of a chair and twelve members.Ten members are appointed by theSecretary of State for Health,one appointed by theWelsh Government,and one member is appointed by theDepartment of Health, Social Services and Public Safetyin Northern Ireland.

The professional members of the board come from medical and scientific backgrounds, and the lay members bring a wide range of business, commercial and public sector experience.

External links

• Human Tissue Authority
• Announcement of membership- Page at theWellcome Trustannouncing the Human Tissue Authority members.
• Chafea Transplantation and Transfusion brochure- Outlining around 50 EU-funded Projects and Actions for saving and improving the quality of life of citizens by facilitating transplantation and blood transfusion in the European Union. Produced by Chafea - the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency.