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

A donor's sperm cannot be used to impregnate more than five women, and the supply of sperm to unauthorized institutions will be banned, according to a circular issued by the ministry on Friday.

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

The ministry said that one donor's semen can only be used for no more than five women for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer and no more than eight women for artificial insemination.

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 businesses are required to stop their operations until they obtain government approval.

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

(China Daily April 10, 2006)