Assisted Human Reproduction Act

An Act respecting assisted human reproduction and related research Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: Short title This Act may be cited as the Assisted Human Reproduction Act. Declaration The Parliament of Canada recognizes and declares that the health and well-being of children born through the application of assisted human reproductive technologies must be given priority in all decisions respecting their use; the benefits of assisted human reproductive technologies and related research for individuals, for families and for society in general can be most effectively secured by taking appropriate measures for the protection and promotion of human health, safety, dignity and rights in the use of these technologies and in related research; while all persons are affected by these technologies, women more than men are directly and significantly affected by their application and the health and well-being of women must be protected in the application of these technologies; the principle of free and informed consent must be promoted and applied as a fundamental condition of the use of human reproductive technologies; persons who seek to undergo assisted reproduction procedures must not be discriminated against, including on the basis of their sexual orientation or marital status; trade in the reproductive capabilities of women and men and the exploitation of children, women and men for commercial ends raise health and ethical concerns that justify their prohibition; and human individuality and diversity, and the integrity of the human genome, must be preserved and protected. Definitions The following definitions apply in this Act. Agency[Repealed, 2012, c. 19, s. 713] assisted reproduction procedure[Repealed, 2012, c. 19, s. 713] chimera means an embryo into which a cell of any non-human life form has been introduced; or an embryo that consists of cells of more than one embryo, foetus or human being. (chimère) consent[Repealed, 2012, c. 19, s. 713] controlled activity[Repealed, 2012, c. 19, s. 713] donor means in relation to human reproductive material, the individual from whose body it was obtained, whether for consideration or not; and in relation to an in vitro embryo, a donor as defined in the regulations. (donneur) embryo means a human organism during the first 56 days of its development following fertilization or creation, excluding any time during which its development has been suspended, and includes any cell derived from such an organism that is used for the purpose of creating a human being. (embryon) foetus means a human organism during the period of its development beginning on the fifty-seventh day following fertilization or creation, excluding any time during which its development has been suspended, and ending at birth. (foetus) gene includes a nucleotide sequence, and an artificially created gene or nucleotide sequence. (gène) genome means the totality of the deoxyribonucleic acid sequence of a particular cell. (génome) health reporting information[Repealed, 2012, c. 19, s. 713] human clone means an embryo that, as a result of the manipulation of human reproductive material or an in vitro embryo, contains a diploid set of chromosomes obtained from a single — living or deceased — human being, foetus or embryo. (clone humain) human reproductive material means a sperm, ovum or other human cell or a human gene, and includes a part of any of them. (matériel reproductif humain) hybrid means a human ovum that has been fertilized by a sperm of a non-human life form; an ovum of a non-human life form that has been fertilized by a human sperm; a human ovum into which the nucleus of a cell of a non-human life form has been introduced; an ovum of a non-human life form into which the nucleus of a human cell has been introduced; or a human ovum or an ovum of a non-human life form that otherwise contains haploid sets of chromosomes from both a human being and a non-human life form. (hybride) in vitro embryo means an embryo that exists outside the body of a human being. (embryon in vitro) licence[Repealed, 2012, c. 19, s. 713] Minister means the Minister of Health. (ministre) ovum means a human ovum, whether mature or not. (ovule) sperm means a human sperm, whether mature or not. (spermatozoïde) surrogate mother means a female person who — with the intention of surrendering the child at birth to a donor or another person — carries an embryo or foetus that was conceived by means of an assisted reproduction procedure and derived from the genes of a donor or donors. (mère porteuse) Her Majesty bound This Act is binding on Her Majesty in right of Canada or a province. Non-application The Human Pathogens and Toxins Act does not apply in respect of sperm, ova and in vitro embryos to be used for the purpose of assisted human reproduction. The Food and Drugs Act does not apply in respect of sperm and ova to be used for the purpose of assisted human reproduction. Prohibited procedures No person shall knowingly create a human clone by using any technique, or transplant a human clone into a human being or into any non-human life form or artificial device; create an in vitro embryo for any purpose other than creating a human being or improving or providing instruction in assisted reproduction procedures; for the purpose of creating a human being, create an embryo from a cell or part of a cell taken from an embryo or foetus or transplant an embryo so created into a human being; maintain an embryo outside the body of a female person after the fourteenth day of its development following fertilization or creation, excluding any time during which its development has been suspended; for the purpose of creating a human being, perform any procedure or provide, prescribe or administer any thing that would ensure or increase the probability that an embryo will be of a particular sex, or that would identify the sex of an in vitro embryo, except to prevent, diagnose or treat a sex-linked disorder or disease; alter the genome of a cell of a human being or in vitro embryo such that the alteration is capable of being transmitted to descendants; transplant a sperm, ovum, embryo or foetus of a non-human life form into a human being; for the purpose of creating a human being, make use of any human reproductive material or an in vitro embryo that is or was transplanted into a non-human life form; create a chimera, or transplant a chimera into either a human being or a non-human life form; or create a hybrid for the purpose of reproduction, or transplant a hybrid into either a human being or a non-human life form. Offers No person shall offer to do, or advertise the doing of, anything prohibited by this section. Payment for prohibited act No person shall pay or offer to pay consideration to any person for doing anything prohibited by this section. Payment for surrogacy No person shall pay consideration to a female person to be a surrogate mother, offer to pay such consideration or advertise that it will be paid. Acting as intermediary No person shall accept consideration for arranging for the services of a surrogate mother, offer to make such an arrangement for consideration or advertise the arranging of such services. Payment to intermediaries No person shall pay consideration to another person to arrange for the services of a surrogate mother, offer to pay such consideration or advertise the payment of it. Surrogate mother — minimum age No person shall counsel or induce a female person to become a surrogate mother, or perform any medical procedure to assist a female person to become a surrogate mother, knowing or having reason to believe that the female person is under 21 years of age. Validity of agreement This section does not affect the validity under provincial law of any agreement under which a person agrees to be a surrogate mother. Purchase of gametes No person shall purchase, offer to purchase or advertise for the purchase of sperm or ova from a donor or a person acting on behalf of a donor. Purchase or sale of embryos No person shall purchase, offer to purchase or advertise for the purchase of an in vitro embryo; or sell, offer for sale or advertise for sale an in vitro embryo. Purchase of other reproductive material No person shall purchase, offer to purchase or advertise for the purchase of a human cell or gene from a donor or a person acting on behalf of a donor, with the intention of using the gene or cell to create a human being or of making it available for that purpose. Exchanges included In this section, “purchase” or “sell” includes to acquire or dispose of in exchange for property or services. Use of reproductive material without consent No person shall make use of human reproductive material for the purpose of creating an embryo unless the donor of the material has given written consent, in accordance with the regulations, to its use for that purpose. Posthumous use without consent No person shall remove human reproductive material from a donor’s body after the donor’s death for the purpose of creating an embryo unless the donor of the material has given written consent, in accordance with the regulations, to its removal for that purpose. Use of in vitro embryo without consent No person shall make use of an in vitro embryo for any purpose unless the donor has given written consent, in accordance with the regulations, to its use for that purpose. Gametes obtained from minor No person shall obtain any sperm or ovum from a donor under 18 years of age, or use any sperm or ovum so obtained, except for the purpose of preserving the sperm or ovum or for the purpose of creating a human being that the person reasonably believes will be raised by the donor. Purpose The purpose of this section is to reduce the risks to human health and safety arising from the use of sperm or ova for the purpose of assisted human reproduction, including the risk of the transmission of disease. Distribution, etc. of gametes Subject to subsection (3), no person shall distribute, make use of or import any of the following for the purpose of assisted human reproduction: sperm that has been obtained from a donor and that is meant for the use of a female person other than a spouse, common-law partner or sexual partner of the donor; an ovum that has been obtained from a donor and that is meant for the use of a female person other than the donor or the spouse, common-law partner or sexual partner of the donor; or an ovum that has been obtained from a donor and that is meant for the donor’s use as a surrogate mother. Exception Subsection (2) does not apply if tests have been conducted in respect of the sperm or ovum in accordance with the regulations, and the sperm or ovum has been obtained, prepared, preserved, quarantined, identified, labelled and stored and its quality assessed in accordance with the regulations; and the donor of the sperm or ovum has been screened and tested, and the donor’s suitability has been assessed, in accordance with the regulations. Testing, etc. in respect of gametes No person shall, except in accordance with the regulations, engage in any activity described in paragraph (3)(a) or (b) in respect of any of the following with the intention of distributing or making use of it for the purpose of assisted human reproduction: sperm described in paragraph (2)(a); an ovum described in paragraph (2)(b); or an ovum described in paragraph (2)(c). Definition of common-law partner In this section, common-law partner, in relation to an individual, means a person who is cohabiting with the individual in a conjugal relationship at the relevant time, having so cohabited for a period of at least one year. [Repealed, 2012, c. 19, s. 718] Reimbursement of expenditures No person shall, except in accordance with the regulations, reimburse a donor for an expenditure incurred in the course of donating sperm or an ovum; reimburse any person for an expenditure incurred in the maintenance or transport of an in vitro embryo; or reimburse a surrogate mother for an expenditure incurred by her in relation to her surrogacy. Receipts No person shall reimburse an expenditure referred to in subsection (1) unless a receipt is provided to that person for the expenditure. No reimbursement No person shall reimburse a surrogate mother for a loss of work-related income incurred during her pregnancy, unless a qualified medical practitioner certifies, in writing, that continuing to work may pose a risk to her health or that of the embryo or foetus; and the reimbursement is made in accordance with the regulations. [Repealed, 2012, c. 19, s. 720] [Repealed before coming into force, 2012, c. 19, s. 720] Assisted human reproduction policy The Minister is responsible for the policy of the Government of Canada respecting assisted human reproduction and any other matter that, in the opinion of the Minister, relates to the subject-matter of this Act. [Repealed, 2012, c. 19, s. 721] [Repealed, 2012, c. 19, s. 722] [Repealed before coming into force, 2012, c. 19, s. 724] Taking measures If the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that this Act has been, or is likely to be, contravened, the Minister may take, or order any person to take, all reasonable measures that the Minister considers necessary to mitigate the effects of the contravention or to prevent the contravention. [Repealed, 2012, c. 19, s. 725] Personal liability No person who takes measures under this section, or who takes measures specified in an order made under this section, is personally liable either civilly or criminally in respect of any act or omission in the course of taking those measures unless it is established that the person acted in bad faith. Subsection (4) does not apply to a person who has committed a contravention of this Act. Statutory Instruments Act For greater certainty, orders made under this section are not statutory instruments within the meaning of the Statutory Instruments Act. The following definitions apply in sections 47 to 62 and 65. information means information that is recorded in any form. (document) material means an embryo or part of one, a foetus or part of one or any human reproductive material outside the body of a human being, or any other thing. (matériel) Designation of inspectors The Minister may designate persons or classes of persons employed by the government of Canada or of a province as inspectors for the purposes of the administration and enforcement of this Act. Certificates to be produced An inspector shall be given a certificate in a form established by the Minister attesting to the inspector’s designation and, on entering any place or conveyance under subsection 47(1), the inspector shall, if so required, produce the certificate to the person in charge of that place or conveyance. Entry by inspectors Subject to section 48, an inspector may, for a purpose related to verifying compliance or preventing non-compliance with any of sections 8, 10 and 12, enter any place or conveyance in which the inspector has reasonable grounds to believe that there is any activity, material or information in respect of which any of those sections applies. Inspection An inspector entering a place or conveyance may, for a purpose set out in subsection (1), examine any material or information that is relevant to that purpose; require any person in the place or conveyance to produce, in the manner and form requested by the inspector, any such material or information; open and examine any receptacle or package that the inspector believes on reasonable grounds contains such material or information; take, or require any person in the place or conveyance to produce, a sample of such material; and conduct any test or analysis or take any measurement of such material. Examination of information In carrying out an inspection, an inspector may, for a purpose set out in subsection (1), examine and make copies of or extracts from any books, documents or other records that the inspector believes on reasonable grounds contain information that is relevant to that purpose; require any person to produce such books, documents or other records for examination or copying; use or cause to be used any computer system to examine information relevant to that purpose that is contained in or available to the computer system; reproduce such information in the form of a printout or other intelligible output for examination or copying; and use or cause to be used any copying equipment. Assistance and information to inspector The owner or person in charge of a place entered by an inspector under subsection (1) and every person found in that place shall give the inspector all reasonable assistance and furnish them with any information that they may reasonably require. Warrant to enter dwelling-house Where a place referred to in subsection 47(1) is a dwelling-house, an inspector may not enter it without the consent of the occupant, except under the authority of a warrant issued under subsection (2). Authority to issue warrant If, on ex parte application, a justice of the peace is satisfied by information on oath that the conditions for entry described in subsection 47(1) exist in relation to a dwelling-house, entry to the dwelling-house is necessary for a purpose related to verifying compliance or preventing non-compliance with any of sections 8, 10 and 12, and entry to the dwelling-house has been refused or there are reasonable grounds for believing that entry will be refused, the justice of the peace may issue a warrant authorizing the inspector named in it to enter the dwelling-house, subject to any conditions that may be specified in the warrant. Use of force In executing a warrant issued under subsection (2), the inspector named in it shall not use force unless the inspector is accompanied by a peace officer and the use of force has been specifically authorized in the warrant. Obstruction and false statements No person shall obstruct or hinder, or knowingly make any false or misleading statement either orally or in writing to, an inspector engaged in carrying out duties under this Act. Interference Except with the authority of an inspector, no person shall remove, alter or interfere in any way with material or information seized under this Act. Seizure by inspector An inspector who enters a place or conveyance under section 47 may seize any material or information by means of which, or in relation to which, the inspector believes on reasonable grounds this Act has been contravened. Storage and removal An inspector may direct that seized material or information be kept or stored in the place where it was seized or be removed to any other proper place. Application for restoration A person from whom material or information is seized may, within 60 days after the date of the seizure, apply to a provincial court judge within whose jurisdiction the seizure was made for an order of restoration, if the person sends to the Minister notice of their intention to do so. Order of restoration The provincial court judge may order that seized material or information be restored immediately to the applicant if, on hearing the application, the judge is satisfied that the applicant is entitled to possession of it; and it will not be required as evidence in any proceedings under this Act. Order of later restoration If, on hearing an application, a provincial court judge is satisfied that the applicant is entitled to possession of seized material or information but is not satisfied as regards paragraph (2)(b), the judge may order that the material or information be restored to the applicant on the expiry of 180 days after the date of the seizure if no proceedings under this Act have been commenced before that time; or on the final conclusion of proceedings under this Act. A provincial court judge may not make an order for the restoration of material or information if it has been forfeited by consent under subsection 52(2). Forfeiture If no application is made under subsection 51(1) for the restoration of seized material or information within 60 days after the date of the seizure, or an application has been made but on the hearing of the application no order of restoration is made, the material or information is forfeited to Her Majesty. Forfeiture with consent Where an inspector has seized material or information and the owner or the person in whose possession it was at the time of the seizure consents in writing to its forfeiture, the material or information is forfeited to Her Majesty. Disposal Subject to section 54, an inspector may dispose of material or information forfeited to Her Majesty in any manner that the designated officer, as defined in the regulations, directs. Search and seizure under warrant An inspector is a public officer for the purposes of the application of section 487 of the Criminal Code in respect of an offence under this Act. Where warrant not necessary An inspector may exercise without a warrant any of the powers conferred by virtue of subsection (1) if the conditions for obtaining a warrant exist but, by reason of exigent circumstances, it would not be practicable to obtain a warrant. Maintaining viable gametes and embryos The designated officer, as defined in the regulations, shall make reasonable efforts to preserve any viable sperm, ovum or in vitro embryo that is seized under this Act or the Criminal Code. Any further measures shall be consistent with the consent of the donor or, if the consent cannot be obtained, shall be in accordance with the regulations. Designation of analysts The Minister may designate any person as an analyst for the purpose of the administration and enforcement of this Act. Analysis and examination An inspector may submit to an analyst, for analysis or examination, any material or information seized by the inspector. Certificate or report An analyst who has made an analysis or examination may issue a certificate or report setting out the results of the analysis or examination. Certificate of analyst Subject to subsections (2) and (3), in any prosecution for an offence under this Act, a certificate purporting to be signed by an analyst, stating that any material or information has been analysed or examined by the analyst and stating the results of the analysis or examination, is admissible in evidence and, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, is proof of the statements contained in the certificate without proof of the signature or official character of the person appearing to have signed it. Requiring attendance of analyst The party against whom a certificate of an analyst is produced under subsection (1) may, with leave of the court, require the attendance of the analyst for the purpose of cross-examination. Notice of intention to produce certificate No certificate shall be admitted in evidence under subsection (1) unless, before the trial, the party intending to produce the certificate has given reasonable notice of that intention, together with a copy of the certificate, to the party against whom it is intended to be produced. Agreements for enforcement The Minister may enter into agreements with any department or agency of the government of Canada or of a province or with any law enforcement agency with respect to the administration and enforcement of this Act. [Repealed before coming into force, 2012, c. 19, s. 733] Offence and punishment A person who contravenes any of sections 5 to 7 and 9 is guilty of an offence and is liable, on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding $500,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or to both; or is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding $250,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding four years, or to both. A person who contravenes any provision of this Act — other than any of sections 5 to 7 and 9 — or of the regulations or an order made under subsection 44(1) is guilty of an offence and is liable, on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding $250,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or to both; or is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both. Court orders A court that imposes a fine or term of imprisonment on a person in respect of an offence under this Act may order the forfeiture and disposition, subject to section 54, of any material or information by means of which or in relation to which the offence was committed; or on application by the Attorney General of Canada, order the person not to engage in any activity that, in the court’s opinion, may lead to the commission of an offence under this Act. Consent of Attorney General A prosecution for an offence under this Act may not be instituted except with the consent of the Attorney General of Canada. Notice to interested authorities The Minister may notify any interested authority, such as a professional licensing or disciplinary body established under the laws of Canada or a province, of the identity of a person who is charged with an offence under this Act or who there are reasonable grounds to believe may have acted in breach of any professional code of conduct. Regulations of Governor in Council The Governor in Council may make regulations for carrying into effect the purposes and provisions of this Act and, in particular, may make regulations defining donor, in relation to an in vitro embryo; for the purposes of section 8, respecting the giving of consent for the use of human reproductive material or an in vitro embryo or for the removal of human reproductive material; respecting the tests to be conducted in respect of sperm and ova described in any of paragraphs 10(2)(a) to (c), and the obtaining, preparation, preservation, quarantining, identification, labelling and storage of, and the assessment of the quality of, the sperm and ova; respecting the testing and screening of, and the assessment of the suitability of, donors described in paragraph 10(3)(b); respecting the disposition of sperm and ova described in any of paragraphs 10(2)(a) to (c); respecting the tracing of sperm and ova described in any of paragraphs 10(2)(a) to (c), including regulations that require measures to be taken to identify persons who have distributed, made use of or imported the sperm or ova for the purpose of assisted human reproduction, or who are storing any of them for that purpose, the communication of information to the persons referred to in subparagraph (i), to the donors of the sperm and ova and to the persons who have undergone assisted human reproduction procedures in which the sperm or ova were used, measures to be taken to determine the nature, cause and extent of the risks to human health and safety, and measures to be taken in respect of the sperm and ova to reduce those risks; respecting the reporting to the Minister of information with respect to an activity described in section 10; respecting the reimbursement of expenditures for the purposes of subsection 12(1), including providing for the expenditures that may be reimbursed; for the purposes of subsection 12(3), respecting the reimbursement of a loss of income; [Repealed, 2012, c. 19, s. 737] respecting the creation and maintenance of records by any person who engages in an activity for which written consent is required under section 8, engages in an activity described in section 10, or makes a reimbursement under section 12; authorizing the Minister, in the manner set out in the regulations, to require any person described in paragraph (n) to provide to the Minister any records that the person is required by the regulations to create or maintain, and any additional information related to the activity described in subparagraph (n)(i), (ii) or (iii), and requiring that person to provide to the Minister those records and that information within the time and in the manner set out in the regulations; respecting the treatment and disposition of material or information seized under this Act or the Criminal Code; for the purposes of subsection 51(1), prescribing the information to be contained in the notice and the time and manner of sending it; respecting the further measures referred to in section 54; respecting the giving of consent for the purposes of section 54; defining designated officer for the purposes of subsection 52(3) and section 54; exempting any person from the application of section 10, conditionally or unconditionally, in the circumstances provided for in the regulations; and exempting from the application of subsection 12(2), conditionally or unconditionally, in the circumstances provided for in the regulations, any person who reimburses expenditures referred to in the regulations. Incorporation by reference The regulations may incorporate any document by reference, regardless of its source, either as it reads on a particular date or as it is amended from time to time. Documents in one language Where a document that is available in both official languages has been incorporated by reference as amended from time to time, an amendment to one language version of that document is not incorporated until the corresponding amendment is made to the other language version. A document does not become a regulation within the meaning of the Statutory Instruments Act merely because it is incorporated by reference. Proposed regulations to be laid before Parliament Before a regulation is made under section 65, the Minister shall lay the proposed regulation before each House of Parliament. Report by committee A proposed regulation that is laid before Parliament shall be referred to the appropriate committee of each House, as determined by the rules of that House, and the committee may review the proposed regulation and report its findings to the House. Standing Committee on Health The committee of the House of Commons referred to in subsection (2) shall be the Standing Committee on Health or, in the event that there is not a Standing Committee on Health, the appropriate committee of the House. Making of regulations A regulation may not be made before the earliest of 30 sitting days after the proposed regulation is laid before Parliament, 160 calendar days after the proposed regulation is laid before Parliament, and the day after the appropriate committee of each House of Parliament has reported its findings with respect to the proposed regulation. Explanation The Minister shall take into account any report of the committee of either House. If a regulation does not incorporate a recommendation of the committee of either House, the Minister shall lay before that House a statement of the reasons for not incorporating it. Alteration A proposed regulation that has been laid before Parliament need not again be so laid prior to the making of the regulation, whether it has been altered or not. Exceptions A regulation may be made without being laid before either House of Parliament if the Minister is of the opinion that the changes made by the regulation to an existing regulation are so immaterial or insubstantial that section 66 should not apply in the circumstances; or the regulation must be made immediately in order to protect the health or safety of any person. Notice of opinion If a regulation is made without being laid before Parliament, the Minister shall lay before each House of Parliament a statement of the Minister’s reasons. [Repealed, 2012, c. 19, s. 738] [Amendment] [Repealed before coming into force, 2012, c. 19, s. 739] Order of Governor in Council The provisions of this Act come into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council. [Note: Act, other than sections 8, 12, 14 to 19, 21 to 59, 72 and 74 to 77, in force April 22, 2004, see SI/2004-49; sections 21 to 24, other than paragraphs 24(1)(a), (e) and (g), sections 25 to 39, 72, 74, 75 and 77 in force January 12, 2006, see SI/2005-42; section 8 in force December 1, 2007, see SI/2007-67; section 44 in force June 29, 2012, see 2012, c. 19, s. 740; sections 45 to 58 in force June 9, 2019, section 12 in force June 9, 2020, see SI/2019-38.] The following definitions apply in sections 742 to 745. Agency means the Assisted Human Reproduction Agency of Canada established by subsection 21(1) of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act. (Agence) Her Majesty means Her Majesty in right of Canada. (Sa Majesté) Appointments terminated The members of the board of directors of the Agency cease to hold office on the coming into force of this subsection. No compensation Despite the provisions of any contract, agreement or order, no person appointed to hold office as a member of the board of directors of the Agency, other than the President, has any right to claim or receive any compensation, damages, indemnity or other form of relief from Her Majesty in right of Canada or from any employee or agent of Her Majesty for ceasing to hold that office or for the abolition of that office by operation of this Division. Employees of Agency Any employee of the Agency who has been advised that they will be laid off in accordance with subsection 64(1) of the Public Service Employment Act is, for the purpose of any workforce adjustment measure taken with respect to them, transferred to the Department of Health on the day on which section 722 comes into force. Rights and obligations transferred All rights and property held by or in the name of or in trust for the Agency and all obligations and liabilities of the Agency are deemed to be rights, property, obligations and liabilities of Her Majesty. References Every reference to the Agency in any deed, contract or other document executed by the Agency in its own name is, unless the context otherwise requires, to be read as a reference to Her Majesty. Closing out affairs The Minister of Health may do and perform all acts and things necessary for and incidental to closing out the affairs of the Agency. Commencement of legal proceedings Any action, suit or other legal proceeding in respect of an obligation or liability incurred by the Agency, or by the Minister of Health in closing out the affairs of the Agency, may be brought against Her Majesty in any court that would have had jurisdiction if the action, suit or proceeding had been brought against the Agency. Continuation of legal proceedings Any action, suit or other legal proceeding to which the Agency is party pending in any court on the coming into force of this section may be continued by or against Her Majesty in the same manner and to the same extent as it could have been continued by or against the Agency.