• Insurance companies will not insist on genetic tests.



• Genetic test results will only affect insurance if they show a clearly increased risk of illness or death. A low increase in risk will not necessarily affect the premium.



• Insurance companies will always seek expert medical advice when assessing the impact of genetic test results on insurance.



• Insurers may take account of a test result only when reliability and relevance have been established.



• Applicants for insurance will not be asked to take a genetic test, but existing test results should be given to the insurance company when it asks a relevant question, unless it has said this information is not required.



• Existing genetic test results need not be disclosed in applications for life insurance up to £100,000 which are directly linked to a new mortgage for the purchase of a house to be occupied by the applicant(s).



• An applicant will not be required to disclose the result of a genetic test undertaken by another person (such as a blood relative), and one person's test information will not affect another person's application.



• The reason for an increased premium or rejection of an insurance application will be provided to the applicant's doctor on request.



• Insurers will not "cherry pick" by offering a "preferred life" lower than normal premiums on the basis of their genetic test results.



• If there is a problem, the applicant should follow the insurance company's complaints procedure in the first instance.



• An independent adjudication tribunal is being set up to consider complaints which are unresolved.



• Each year chief executives will need to demonstrate how they have complied with the code.

Peter Jacobs, Chairman of the ABI's Genetics Committee, said:

"I believe this code of practice will reassure people over insurance companies' practice on the use and handling of genetic test results. In drawing it up, the industry consulted very widely to try to ensure it would be welcomed and supported by the public, geneticists and other interested groups.

"People will not be required to take genetic tests but, where they do pass a genetic test result to an insurance company, it will treat both the applicant and the information in a sensitive and proper manner."

During its development, the code was considered by both insurance companies and otherorganisations with an interest in genetics. The Association also submitted its proposalsto the scrutiny of a "citizens' jury" organised by the Institute for Public Policy Research. There was a prior commitment to take account of, and respond in detail to, all the jury'srecommendations.

Peter Jacobs added:

"We did consider alternatives to some of the key provisions in the code including, in particular, a moratorium on using genetic test results. This was not thought appropriate because there are already eight specific genetic tests which are reliable and which clearly demonstrate either an additional risk, or the absence of risk in which case the consumer benefits by paying a standard premium. The use of genetic test results in this way was supported by the citizens' jury."

The code will be backed by guidance to companies on the handling and storage ofconfidential medical information and educating relevant staff, including through informationprovided by the Association's genetics adviser (Professor Sandy Raeburn of the Universityof Nottingham).

An information sheet for the public, "Genetic Testing and Insurance", has been prepared.

Notes

1. The Genetics Code of Practice is available.



2. The information sheet for the public is available.



3. Further enquiries to:





Vic Rance    +44 020 7216 7440    (Home: +44 020 8647 5188)
Malcolm Tarling    +44 020 7216 7410    (Home: +44 020 8297 9510)
Suzanne Moore    +44 020 7216 7411    (Mobile: 0370 441277)
Tony Baker    +44 020 7216 7400    (Home: +44(0)1920 465000)




4. For radio broadcasts, an ISDN line is available.



5. For further information about the citizens' jury contact the Institute for Public Policy Research: Jo Lenaghan, Institute for Public Policy Research, 30 Southampton Street, London WC2 (Tel: +44 020 7470 6100).