The Christian Democrats are ‘not ruling out’ moves to expand the selection of embryos to cover serious genetic diseases such as some forms of breast cancer, MP Henk Jan Ormel said after a meeting with fellow CDA MPs.

However, the cabinet should come up with new preconditions to govern an extension of the screening programme, he said. ‘This is a matter of principle. It is up to the cabinet to determine those conditions,’ Ormel told news agency ANP.
Plans to extend embryo screening to include cancer were put on ice last week after protests from orthodox Christian party and cabinet member ChristenUnie. Labour, the third coalition party, is in favour of widening the screening process.