Mr. David Matas:

Deputy Crowe asked whether legislative proposals had been successful. Different countries have produced a number of legislative proposals but the only enacted legislation that we advocate is Israel's legislation, which has been very successful. Before a report came out, Israel funded people to go to China for transplants and not just aftercare and transportation. Israel paid Chinese hospitals costs from its health bill. After a report came out, Israel shut down organ tourism completely, legislated against it, criminalised it, required reporting and penalised brokerage. Its policy completely flip-flopped, from virtually everyone who needed a transplant in Israel going to China to nobody travelling. Now there are no cases of people from Israel travelling to China for transplants. The initiative has not stopped the killing of Falun Gong members for their organs but has stopped complicity by countries abroad, or at least by Israel. The policy sends an important message.