Human cloning is banned in France. Bioethics laws established in August, 2004 authorized human embryonic stem cell research, but using stem cell lines imported from abroad.

However, the Agence de Biomédecine announced recently that new conditions are set, at least for the next five years, allowing researchers to use embryos from consenting couples undergoing in vitro fertilization if the couples do not plan to use them, or if the embryos have been diagnosed with a disease or malformation.

It is emphasized that embryos will not be created for the sole purpose of donating them for research.

According to an article in The Scientist:

Researchers who want to conduct stem cell research must submit project proposals to the Agence de Biomédicine. The agency intends to limit the number of authorizations every year, in order to control the process and avoid abuses, according to Camby.

Read the full story from The Scientist.