Madrid - Spain has allowed genetic screening of embryos to prevent cancer as one of the first countries in the world, press reports said Wednesday.

Two decisions by the National Commission for Assisted Human Reproduction allowed two couples to select embryos to make sure they were free of genes predisposing them to breast or thyroid cancer.

The decision on breast cancer was seen as making a liberal interpretation of the law, which only allows screening on the conditions that the disease is hereditary, appears early and cannot be treated.

The couple which was allowed to have a child designed not to have breast cancer had "a lot of suffering behind them," health official Jose Martinez Olmos explained.

The family of the mother-to-be had a genetic predisposition for a "very aggressive" and precocious type of breast cancer, he said.

Spain was the second country after Britain to allow genetic screening for cancer, according to the daily El Pais.

Britain's first baby designed to be free of breast cancer was born in January.

Genetic screening is opposed by conservative Spanish Catholics, who regard the discarding of unviable embryos as a form of abortion. (dpa)