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Central Ethics Committee for Stem Cell Research

The Central Ethics Committee for Stem Cell Research (Zentrale Ethik-Kommission für Stammzellenforschung, ZES) was appointed for the first time when the German Stem Cell Act (StZG) came into force in 2002. The committee is an independent and interdisciplinary expert body whose activities are governed by this law, the 'Act ensuring the protection of embryos in connection with the import and use of human embryonic stem cells' (Stem Cell Act – StZG) dated 28 June 2002 (BGBl. I p. 2277), most recently amended by Article 50 of the 'Act on dismantling unnecessary ordinances on the written form in Federal administrative law' (BGBl. I p. 626) dated 29 March 2017, and by the 'Regulation concerning the Central Ethics Committee for Stem Cell Research and the competent authority pursuant to the Stem Cell Act' (ZES-Verordnung, ZESV) dated 18 July 2002 (BGBl. I p. 2663), most recently amended by Article 51 of the above-mentioned law dated 29 March 2017 (BGBl. I p. 626).

The commission, which conducts its work on an honorary basis, is made up of 9 members and 9 deputy members appointed by the Federal Government for a term of three years. The members represent the fields of biology, medicine, ethics and theology.

The committee’s task is to review and assess applications received by the RKI for the import and use of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). For every application submitted, the committee issues an opinion which is then sent to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the competent authority under the Stem Cell Act. The committee examines the ethical acceptability of the applications according to the requirements stipulated in the Stem Cell Act. An application must demonstrate in a scientifically substantiated manner (a) that the research project pursues high-level research objectives for a gain in scientific knowledge, (b) that the scientific issues have, as far as possible, been subject to a preliminary clarification in other systems, for example in animal-cell models, and (c) that the targeted gain in scientific knowledge can probably only be achieved by using hESCs. The ZES summarizes the results of its review in a written opinion and submits it to the RKI.

Pursuant to section 14 of the ZESV, the ZES prepares an annual report which is published by the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) and can be accessed via the websites of the BMG and the RKI.

The executive secretariat of the ZES is located at the RKI.

Date: 08.11.2023