Overview
- The Diet approved the law Friday, July 17, 2026, making it illegal to implant genome-edited human embryos into human or animal wombs.
- Violations carry up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to ¥10 million, or both under the new statute.
- The law covers not only genome-edited fertilized eggs but also embryos made using sperm or eggs derived from iPS cells or embryonic stem cells.
- Basic genome-editing research for disease study and therapy development remains permitted but requires researchers to file plans with the government, observe a 60-day wait before starting, and comply with possible suspension or change orders.
- Enforcement is set to begin one year after the law is promulgated to give the health and education ministries time to issue rules, and the measure follows global moves after the 2018 case that reported births from genome-edited embryos.