China's Ministry of Health on Thursday ordered health
departments and supervising bodies to tighten control over assisted
reproductive technology (ART) and sperm banks.
The circular called for strict penalties for the unauthorized
practice of assisted reproductive technology and operation of sperm
banks.
Those institutions approved by the government would also face
penalties if found violating technical standards and ethical
principles or overstepping their operational ranges.
"Their licenses for conducting ART and setting up sperm bans
will be revoked," the ministry said in the circular.
The ministry also instructed local authorities to rigorously
review new applications and strictly control the number of
institutions authorized for assisted reproductive technologies.
Eighty-eight organizations have been authorized to carry out ART
so far, and 10 have been approved to establish sperm banks.
The ministry said it had discovered cases involving surrogate
motherhood and the sale of eggs and sperm, which were illegal in
China. There were signs that some institutions, tempted by huge
financial rewards, conducted the ART for commercial use.
The ministry instructed local health authorities to conduct
thorough inspections of institutions in their jurisdictions.
"Those practicing ART and setting up sperm banks without
approval should be penalized severely and their future applications
should be rejected," the circular said.
The Health Ministry in March approved 12 medical organizations
to launch training centers for ART and human sperm banks.
Medical workers in government-approved institutions would have
to receive training in these centers before applying to carry out
assisted reproduction treatment.
(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2007)