China's Ministry of Health has banned commercial donation and supply of human eggs and tightened the control over sperm banks, in a bid to control the commercial use of assisted reproductive technology (ART).

 

A circular issued by the ministry on Friday restricts the use of a donor's sperm to impregnate no more than five women and bans the supply of sperm to unauthorized institutions.

 

It said that sperm banks should record detailed information on the use of the sperm specimens.

 

The ministry said that one donor's semen can only provide no more than five women for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and no more than eight women for artificial insemination (AI).

 

The circular strictly bans egg donation and supply for commercial purposes. It stressed that unauthorized institutions are banned from using egg donation technology and egg donors are restricted to women whose eggs are collected while receiving assisted reproductive technology.

 

As of March 31, 64 institutions were authorized to offer ART related services and seven institutions have established sperm banks.

 

Institutions that have started such business are required to stop operation until they obtain government approval.

 

Health technicians in the institutions are required to attend training programs to obtain qualification certificates.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2006)