Stem Cell Research Internationally

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July 9, 2004: France's parliament passes updates to the country's bioethics law, allowing a limited five-year period for stem cell research on human embryos.

September 14, 2004: Germany's National Ethics Council, charged with offering the federal government advice on ethical issues in the life sciences, announces that it will continue to oppose cloning of human embryos for research.

November 18, 2004: In an attempt to resolve division among UN member states, Italy puts forth a compromise proposal for a global treaty on human cloning.

November 19, 2004: The United Nations ends a long-running debate by deciding not to draft a treaty that would ban all human cloning. President Bush, along with Costa Rica, supported the total ban.

November 28, 2004: Swiss voters approve a new law that will allow research on the stem cells of human embryos, marking the first time a country has put the controversial issue to a popular vote.

February 20, 2005: The UN General Assembly's legal committee adopts a non-binding resolution against all forms of human cloning, including techniques used in stem cell research.

June 12, 2005: Italians begin voting on referendums to lessen the limitations on existing legislation on fertility treatment and stem cell research.

January 10, 2006: South Korean prosecutors say that they will open a criminal investigation into South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-Suk, a day after an investigation concluded that Hwang's acclaimed research on stem cells was fake.

June 29, 2006: A leading member of the Catholic Church expresses concern that the Church could be prosecuted for some of its traditional religious positions against abortion, same-sex marriage, and stem cell research.

July 24, 2006: The EU Council of Ministers agree to continue funding for embryonic stem cell research, but that aid may not be used to procure stem cell embryos.

August 17, 2006: Australian Prime Minister John Howard agrees to hold a conscience vote on a stem cell research bill allowing therapeutic cloning if a private bill is offered to parliament. A conscience vote is a free parliamentary vote in which members are not bound by party policy.

November 7, 2006: The Australian Senate votes to lift restrictions on stem cell research and permit the therapeutic cloning of human embryos.

December 6, 2006: The Australian Parliament votes in line with the Australian Senate's vote in November to lift restrictions, effectively ending the ban on stem cell cloning.

January 29, 2007: The government of Norway proposes new legislation that would allow embryonic stem cell research to potentially find cures for various diseases.

May 30, 2008: The Supreme Court of Brazil rules that a 2005 law allowing embryonic stem cell research is constitutional.