These kinds of depositories should be approved by the Ministry of Health, sources from the Ministry said.

China has been using human aided reproduction technology since 1982, which has helped some sterile men. However, the application of new technology has not been well regulated over the past years and some social problems have occurred.

The Ministry of Health recently issued the regulation on human sperm depositories that will become effective on August 1.

The regulation stipulates that sperm depositories must be established in medical institutions. The collection and provision must act on the will of people concerned and conform to a social ethic. A healthy man between 22 and 45 years of age is only allowed to provide his sperm to one depository and is restricted to provide for no more than five women, who are from different areas.

The depository must make it clear to their clients about how their sperm will be used, kept and what kind of possible ethic problems it will bring about. After an agreement jointly signed, the depository must keep a confidential record of each client.

Those who provide sperm must undergo a strict health examination. Sperm refrigerated for six months and is checked twice can be supplied to medical institutions. Fresh sperm is banned to go from depositories to hospitals.

Meanwhile, the ministry issued the regulation on human aided reproduction technology that will be enforced at the same time as the sperm regulation. The operation must be carried out in approved and registered hospitals.

Hospitals must sign a contract with legal sperm depositories and any private collection of sperm is forbidden. They should sign an agreement with their clients as well and keep a confidential record for them. Any buying and selling of gamete, germ cell and embryo are illegal, the regulation stipulates.

(Xinhua 03/08/2001)