The fertility watchdog has been accused of turning children into commodities after it relaxed the rules covering so-called designer babies.

The decision means that dozens of parents will be allowed to have donor siblings - test-tube babies created to save the life of a seriously ill brother or sister.

Stakeholder Response: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

Suzi Leather, HFEA chairman, said: "Faced with potential requests from parents who want to save a sick child, the emotional focus is understandably on the child who is ill.

"Our job is also to consider the welfare of the tissue matched child which will be born. Our review of the evidence available does not indicate that the embryo biopsy procedure disadvantages resulting babies compared to other IVF babies.

"It also shows that the risks associated with sibling to sibling stem cell donation are low and that this treatment can benefit the whole family."

Stakeholder Response: ProLife Party

Patrick Leahy, a spokesman for the ProLife Party said: "The ProLife Party is extremely disappointed with the HFEA’s decision to allow babies to be created as a tissue type match for a sibling. The decision is undesirable, undemocratic, and unnecessary.