TOKYO, July 23 (Xinhuanet) -- An advisory panel of Japanese government formally gave the green light Friday to allow researchers to produce cloned human embryos for basic research, in the hope that they will be useful for regenerative medicine.

    The Council for Science and Technology Policy, chaired by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, issued its approval of such measures recommended by a sub-panel on bioethics in its final report July 13, according to Kyodo News.

    The council also approved the production of fertilized eggs only for use in research for reproductive medicine.

    Acting on the decision of the full panel, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will draw up guidelines to regulate production and use of cloned human embryos for such ends.

    Production of cloned human embryos is currently banned in Japan by existing guidelines based on a law on human cloning.

    The council intends to pursue the research only after verifyingthe kind of system that will be established by the government, Kyodo said.

    To prevent such a scenario, the panel recommended that only designated research institutions take part in such research, and that the state be responsible for examining whether or not production will take place. Enditem