CABINET NOTES: **The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda, as part of its strategic efforts to develop the Wellness Tourism sector, has taken a policy decision to initiate the process for the manufacturing of stem cells within the country.**
The Honourable Attorney General has been tasked with reviewing and proposing legislation to create an enabling legal framework for this emerging biotechnology sector.
The Cabinet emphasized that any stem cell manufacturing conducted in Antigua and Barbuda will be done strictly using ethical and humane methods, specifically utilizing **umbilical cord blood stem cells (UCBSCs)**.
The Cabinet also acknowledged the increasing number of individuals who travel to Antigua and Barbuda seeking stem cell treatment and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting this sector—strictly within the parameters of national law.
_Stem cell manufacturing refers to the process of producing, expanding, and preparing stem cells in controlled laboratory or industrial settings for use in research, diagnostics, or therapeutic applications. It involves several steps to ensure that the stem cells are safe, potent, pure, and scalable for clinical or commercial use._