Embryo testing law approved, with three PN MPs voting against

Three PN MPs voted against a new IVF law which otherwise enjoyed cross-party support on Wednesday.  It is understood that opposition MPs Adrian Delia, Alex Borg, and Ivan Bartolo voted against the reform, which had made conservative members of the Opposition uncomfortable. MPs voted electronically.

The new IVF law will allow genetic testing prior to implantation to enable doctors to look out for certain conditions such as Huntingtons' Disease. Video: Karl Andrew Micallef

It had been a headline pledge of the Labour Party in the March general election.

Prime Minister Robert Abela had pledged to deliver the reform within the first 100 days of his administration which drew to a close on Wednesday. An Opposition amendment for what is known as polar body testing was taken on board. This type of test happens on oocytes which have not been fertilised. When the law was put for a vote on Wednesday a division was called and Opposition MP Adrian Delia asked for MPs to vote individually.

He declared he is in favour of life - from beginning to end and "this is why I will be voting against the motion”.

Delia had hinted that he would be voting against the reform in a social media post on...