Access to medically assisted procreation - Search
Pays-Bas - Sperm/oocyte/embryo donation
6. Is donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos permitted in your country? Yes
7. Are there specific compensation arrangements for donations of sperm/oocytes/embryos? No. Compensations are legally limited to only compensation of costs made for the donation.
8. Are there specific criteria for donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos? Yes.
Within the Embryos Act, there are criteria to guarantee the free consent of the donor. In addition to that, the professional Guideline states that oocyte donation is contraindicated for
- women who are older than 40 years,
- women who have a higher risk on complications is case of oocyte-stimulation- or punction;
- women with sexually transmitted diseases who cannot be cured
- women with a genetic disease within their family.
These contraindications are absolute. In addition, some women have a relative contraindication to oocyte donation, for instance women who have no children themselves and are under the age of 30.
9. Are there specific non-medical criteria for selection of gametes/embryos to be used for MAP? No
10. Are there special measures for the prevention of consanguinity? Yes. There is a professional guideline that limits the number of offspring of one donor to 25 children or 12 families. Because clinics now don’t have a legal basis to check if a donor also donates in other clinics, there is a legal change in preparation which allows national registration of donors, so that the limited number of offspring can be monitored.
11. In a homosexual couple, is a legal relationship possible between a child and the partner of the legal parent? Yes. When two women are married, the second mother can easily become the legal mother. In other cases, an adoption procedure is required.
Pays-Bas - Current debate and specific situations
19. Is there an important current debate in your country on these or related issues? No
20. Delegations are invited to provide information, in this section, on particular cases encountered in their country, and especially their case-law. Na
Slovak Republic - Current debate and specific situations
19. Is there an important current debate in your country on these or related issues? N/A
20. Delegations are invited to provide information, in this section, on particular cases encountered in their country, and especially their case-law. N/A
Slovak Republic - Medical aspects
2. Are there specific criteria for access to MAP?
Medical reasons:
a. Infertility:
For a heterosexual couple? Yes; For women not living in a heterosexual couple? No
b. Risk of transmission of a disease
For a heterosexual couple Yes?; For women not living in a heterosexual couple? N/A
c. Other N/A
Estonia - Medical aspects
2. Are there specific criteria for access to MAP?
Medical reasons:
a. Infertility:
For a heterosexual couple? Yes; For women not living in a heterosexual couple? Yes
b. Risk of transmission of a disease
For a heterosexual couple Yes?; For women not living in a heterosexual couple? Yes
c. Other N/A
Sweden - Medical aspects
2. Are there specific criteria for access to MAP?
Medical reasons:
a. Infertility:
For a heterosexual couple? Yes. The couple must have attempted natural conception for a reasonable period of time, unless inapplicable.; For women not living in a heterosexual couple? No
b. Risk of transmission of a disease
For a heterosexual couple Yes?; For women not living in a heterosexual couple? Yes
The parents’ state of health may be assessed (including parents’ age, if life expectancy considering illnesses is above 18 yrs, the ability to give the child good living conditions; an assessment in the child’s best interest)
c. Other N/A
Switzerland - Right to know about his or her biological origin for children born after MAP
16. Is donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos anonymous?
sperm No / oocytes - / embryos -
17. Is it possible to obtain information about the biological origin of a child born after gametes of embryo donation?
i. For the child him or herself Yes.
Sperm donation in accordance with Art. 18 ff. RMA is the only permissible heterologous reproductive method in Switzerland. The child conceived by means of heterologous sperm donation has a right of access to certain relevant data, including the appearance, name, place of residence, date of birth, nationality, education and profession of the donor (Art. 24 para. 2 lit. a and d RMA), without having to claim a legitimate interest. The minor child also has a right to information, provided that there is a legitimate interest, often a medical interest (Art. 27 para. 2 RMA).
ii. For the parents No; iii. For a court Yes, if necessary, in particular in the context of paternity proceedings or proceedings to challenge the presumption of marriageability.
a. Identity of the donor(s)
i. For the child him or herself Yes; ii. For the parents No; iii. For a court Yes, if necessary
b. Certain health information concerning the donor(s)
i. For the child him or herself Yes; ii. For the parents No; iii. For a court No
Yes, in the case of procreation through sperm donation, if certain requirements are met:
If you can claim an interest worthy of protection (for example, for medical reasons), you will receive further information, such as the results transmitted by the doctors for the medical examination (Art. 27 para. 2 RMA).
c. Other information
i. For the child him or herself Yes; ii. For the parents No; iii. For a court No
Yes, in addition to information on origin, the child may also request information on occupation, education and physical appearance (Art. 27 para. 1 RMA). He or she may request information about all the donor's data - including the date of the sperm donation and the results of the medical examination - if he or she has an interest worthy of protection (Art. 27 para. 2 RMA). At the request of the sperm donor, further donor data in addition to the data mentioned in Art. 24 FMedG, namely pictures of the donor, are retained (Art. 17 RMA).
18. Is it possible to contest maternity and paternity of children born utilising MAP and under which conditions? No. Art. 256 para. 3 Swiss Civil Code; Art. 23 RMA
Slovenia - Current debate and specific situations
19. Is there an important current debate in your country on these or related issues?
Not at present. However, in 2001, an amended law on medically assisted procreation was passed, making, among other things, the MAP services freely accessible to single women without male partners and without a medical fertility problem, which under the previous law (2000) had not been possible. An opposition group in the Parliament called for a legislative referendum, triggering fervent public debate. The National Medical Ethics Committee (NMEC) and the National Health Council advised against arbitrary use of medicine for interventions with far reaching consequences, when, such as in this case, there is no valid medical indication. The NMEC quoted the Ad Hoc Committee of Experts on Progress in Biomedical Sciences (CAHBI)’s Report on human artificial procreation, 1989, which restricts the use of MAP procedures to heterosexual couples and to the situations with strict medical indications (infertility, failure of other methods of treatment, need to avoid transmission of a grave disease) as in fact contained in the previous law.
In the referendum, the voters rejected the new law with an overwhelming, nearly 3:1, majority. As a result, the law of 2000 described above remained in force.
20. Delegations are invited to provide information, in this section, on particular cases encountered in their country, and especially their case-law.
The matter of the law is published in:
ZUPANCIC, Karel, MEDEN-VRTOVEC, Helena, TOMAZEVIC, Tomaz, ZNIDARSIC, Viktorija. The future law on infertility treatment and on biomedically assisted procreation in Slovenia. J. assist. reprod. genet., Oct. 2000, vol. 17, issue 9, pp. 496-497.
(The paper refers to the draft, but the final version is essentially unchanged).
Information on some other aspects of the legislation and practice of MAP in Slovenia are contained in a IFFS survey (See Addendum).
Spain - Sperm/oocyte/embryo donation
6. Is donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos permitted in your country? sperm Yes/oocytes Yes/embryos Yes
7. Are there specific compensation arrangements for donations of sperm/oocytes/embryos? Yes. The National Commission for Assisted Reproduction approved in 1998 the figure of 600 euros as compensation for the expense and inconvenience of the donor. Currently some private clinics are paying 1000 euros.
8. Are there specific criteria for donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos? sperm Yes/oocytes Yes/embryos Yes
- Donor: Adult (18 years old or more) and legally capable.
Sperm donor: no more than 50 years old. Oocyte donor: no more than 35 years old.
- No lucrative or commercial purposes.
- Good psychophysical health and they do not suffer from genetic, hereditary or transmissible infectious diseases to offspring.
- Written contract.
9. Are there specific non-medical criteria for selection of gametes/embryos to be used for MAP? Yes. Matching appearance and immunological compatibility of donor and future parent(s).
10. Are there special measures for the prevention of consanguinity? Yes. No donor can be parent of more than six children. This is controlled through the National Registry of Donors and the banks of the clinics of assisted reproduction.
11. In a homosexual couple, is a legal relationship possible between a child and the partner of the legal parent? No
Spain - Current debate and specific situations
19. Is there an important current debate in your country on these or related issues? The Spanish Surrogate Association is promoting the legalisation of this method as another Assisted Reproductive Technology.
20. Delegations are invited to provide information, in this section, on particular cases encountered in their country, and especially their case-law. -
Croatia - Right to know about his or her biological origin for children born after MAP
16. Is donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos anonymous? No. After reaching the age of 18 a person born from the MAP procedure is allowed to have access to data on identity of biological parent(s).
17. Is it possible to obtain information about the biological origin of a child born after gametes of embryo donation?
i. For the child him or herself Yes; ii. For the parents No; iii For a court Yes
After reaching the age of 18, every person born from a MAP procedure is allowed to have access to data on identity of biological parent(s).
Parents do have a right to access the donor data in the case of medical indication.
Both, child and parents should require data access from the MAP Registry.
a. Identity of the donor(s)
i. For the child him or herself, ii. For the parents, iii. For a court NA
b. Certain health information concerning the donor(s)
i. For the child him or herself Yes; ii. For the parents Yes; iii For a court Yes
c. Other information
i. For the child him or herself Yes; ii. For the parents No; iii. For a court Yes
18. Is it possible to contest maternity and paternity of children born utilising MAP and under which conditions? Yes. Contest is regulated within the Family Law. It is possible to contest maternity or paternity only in the cases when MAP procedure was performed without consent.
Cyprus - Financial aspects
3. Are MAP procedures covered by the social security system? No. The Ministry of Finance covers the cost of MAP procedures.
4. Are there specific criteria for such coverage? Yes. Specific criteria for such coverage are: (1) infertility (2) for women under 40 years old.
5. Is the financial coverage limited to a number of MAP procedures? Yes. The financial coverage is limited to only one (1) MAP procedure
France - Financial aspects
3. Are MAP procedures covered by the social security system? Yes. Medically assisted procreation is considered a health care activity. Law N°2021-1017 of August 2nd 2021 provides for the possibility of reimbursement of MAP by social security under the same conditions for unmarried single women, female couples and heterosexual couples. The MAP procedure is covered by national solidarity. The beneficiaries are exempt from the co-payment.
4. Are there specific criteria for such coverage? Yes. The law of August 2, 2021 removed the criterion of infertility, MPA procedures are covered at 100% by the Assurance Maladie for a maximum of : - 6 inseminations (only one artificial insemination per cycle) to obtain a pregnancy; - 4 in vitro fertilization attempts to achieve a pregnancy. This coverage is the same for everyone (heterosexual couple, couple made up of 2 women, unmarried woman) Knowing that, for the retrieval or the collection in a project of AMP, there are conditions of ages: - oocyte retrieval can be performed in women up to their 43rd birthday; - Sperm collection can be performed in men up to their 60th birthday; And for the performance of MPA: - until her 45th birthday for the woman, unmarried or within the couple, who will carry the child; - until his 60th birthday for the person in the couple who will not carry the child.
5. Is the financial coverage limited to a number of MAP procedures? Yes. The health insurance system will cover six inseminations and four complete cycles, i.e. concluded by embryo transfer. Any IVF cycle broken off before embryo transfer, irrespective of the stage at which it is abandoned, will not be counted by the health insurance system. Reimbursement is subject to a preliminary agreement procedure.
Should pregnancy and delivery occur, the count restarts from zero, and coverage is provided for four new attempts. This does not apply to miscarriages or extrauterine pregnancies.
Georgia - Medical aspects
2. Are there specific criteria for access to MAP?
Medical reasons:
a. Infertility:
For a heterosexual couple? LHC: Yes, DL-RHRR: Yes;
For women not living in a heterosexual couple? LHC: No, DL-RHRR: Yes
2bi
LHC: Yes
“Risk of transmission of a genetic disease”
DL-RHRR: Yes
a) “Proven likelihood of the transmission of a serious genetic disease to a naturally conceived child from a woman or man, that may result in a child’s severe disability and/or premature death.”
b) “Proven likelihood that a child from natural insemination will be born with a non-genetic disease that may result in grave disability and/or premature death.”
b. Risk of transmission of a disease
For a heterosexual couple?; LHC: Yes “Risk of transmission of a genetic disease” DL-RHRR: Yes
a) “Proven likelihood of the transmission of a serious genetic disease to a naturally conceived child from a woman or man, that may result in a child’s severe disability and/or premature death.”
b) “Proven likelihood that a child from natural insemination will be born with a non-genetic disease that may result in grave disability and/or premature death.”
For women not living in a heterosexual couple? LHC: No, DL-RHRR: Yes
a) “Proven likelihood of the transmission of a serious genetic disease to a naturally conceived child from a woman or man, that may result in a child’s severe disability and/or premature death.”
b) “Proven likelihood that a child from natural insemination will be born with a non-genetic disease that may result in grave disability and/or premature death.”
Accordingly, the draft law of Georgia on Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights permits access to medically assisted reproductive technologies for heterosexual couples or single women only if at least one of the conditions listed below are met:
- A woman and/or man of reproductive age is infertile, other alternatives available in the country for treating infertility have proved ineffective; or such treatment hasn’t yet been carried out, but there is a reason to assume that it will be ineffective, as attested by a duly authorised state medical institution;
- There is a proven likelihood of the transmission of a serious genetic disease to a naturally conceived child from a woman or man, which may result in a child’s severe disability and/or premature death;
- There is a proven likelihood, that a child from natural insemination will be born with a non-genetic disease, that may result in grave disability and/or premature death;
- A woman carries a disease due to which the pregnancy may endanger the woman’s life and/or health.
c. Other There is one more medical criterion, but only for accessing surrogacy: existence of a disease due to which the pregnancy may endanger the woman’s life and/or health.
Georgia - Legal aspects
1. Is access to medically assisted procreation (MAP)
a. restricted to heterosexual couples?
LHC: Insemination-No; IVF-Yes
a) At present the law gives access to artificial insemination to heterosexual couples as well as to single women.
b) However in vitro fertilization (IVF) is accessible only to couples.
DL-RHRR: No. Draft law gives access to medically assisted procreation (artificial insemination as well as in vitro fertilization procedures) to heterosexual couples as well as to single women.
b. possible for women not living in a heterosexual couple?
LHC: Insemination-Yes; IVF-No
a) Law gives access to artificial insemination to single women. However, the Law does not specify whether women should be living in heterosexual couple or not.
b) IVF is not accessible for single women.
DL-RHRR: Yes. Draft law gives access to medically assisted procreation (artificial insemination as well as in vitro fertilization procedures) to single women.
Italy - Réglementation ou pratique et accès à la PMA
- Titre de la législation : Règles en matière de procréation médicalement assistée.
- Date de l’adoption et de l’entrée en vigueur 19 février 2004 n°40
- Publiée dans : Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana (publication officielle contenant les éléments des nouvelles lois).
- Indiquer si une révision est en cours et, dans vos réponses, fournir des informations sur les dispositions du projet de loi :
Le 12 juin 2005 a eu lieu un référendum populaire pour modifier plusieurs dispositions de cette loi. L’abrogation de ces dispositions a été rejetée, le taux d’abstention ayant été de 74 % (51 % de votes favorables auraient été nécessaires pour changer la loi).
Résumé
1. Protection des désirs de maternité/paternité et règles d’exercice des droits découlant de la loi n° 40/2004.
L’accès aux techniques de procréation assistée est réservé à des couples hétérosexuels majeurs, mariés ou menant une vie commune, dont les membres sont tous deux vivants et en âge de procréer.
Il est interdit aux personnes célibataires et aux homosexuels.
Le couple qui demande un accès aux techniques de procréation (médicalement) assistée doit produire un certificat médical attestant l’existence d’une stérilité ou d’une infertilité pour lesquelles il n’existe aucune autre solution possible.
Le consentement, écrit et librement révocable jusqu’au moment de la fécondation in vitro de l’ovocyte, est obligatoirement précédé d’une information sur le plan technique, juridique, et éthique ainsi que sur le coût des procédures et sur les conséquences possibles des techniques de procréation assistée pour l’enfant à naître.
Lors de l’entretien avec le responsable du centre médical, les couples sont également informés des possibilités d’adopter un enfant ou de devenir famille d’accueil d’un enfant en vue de son adoption (loi n° 184 du 4 mai 1983).
Un délai de réflexion de sept jours doit être respecté avant le début des procédures de procréation assistée.
Ces techniques sont appliquées de manière progressive en commençant par les moins invasives afin d’éviter de recourir à des interventions dont le caractère invasif, au plan technique et psychologique, les rend plus pénibles pour les personnes concernées.
Le médecin responsable du centre médical est en droit de prendre la décision de ne pas recourir aux techniques de procréation assistée, exclusivement pour des raisons médicales ou de santé.
La cryoconservation des gamètes masculins et féminins est autorisée, à condition que les personnes concernées aient été informées et y aient donné leur consentement écrit.
La loi, dans sa formulation d’origine, interdisait le recours à des techniques de type hétérologue (avec don de gamètes d’un tiers extérieur au couple). L’intervention de la Cour constitutionnelle (arrêt n° 162 de 2014) a supprimé cette interdiction.
2.Protection de l’enfant à naître
Le statut juridique de l’enfant né par techniques de procréation assistée est celui d’un enfant légitime ou reconnu par le couple. Le désaveu de paternité est exclu en cas de fécondation hétérologue. Le donneur de gamètes n’acquiert aucun lien juridique de parenté avec l’enfant né (aucun droit ni devoir).
La mère ne peut plus, au moment de l’accouchement, déclarer sa volonté de ne pas être connue, comme cela est autorisé pour la conception naturelle (Décret du Président de la République n° 396 du 3 novembre 2000).
3.Protection de l’embryon
Il est interdit de procéder à la cryoconservation ou à la suppression d’embryons, sous réserve des dispositions de la loi n° 194 du 22 mai 1978 (loi sur l’interruption volontaire de grossesse).
La loi, dans sa formulation d’origine, disposait que les techniques de production d’embryons, compte tenu de l’évolution technique et scientifique et de ce qui pourra être établi à l’avenir par des orientations juridiques du ministre de la Santé, ne peuvent conduire à la création d’un nombre d’embryons supérieur à celui strictement nécessaire à la réalisation d’un transfert unique et simultané, ce nombre ne pouvant en aucun cas être supérieur à trois.
Lorsque le transfert des embryons dans l’utérus se révèle impossible pour raison majeure grave et prouvée, ayant trait à l’état de santé de la femme et non prévisible au moment de la fécondation, la cryoconservation des embryons est autorisée jusqu’à la date du transfert, qui sera effectué aussitôt que possible. Depuis la décision n° 151/2009 de la Cour constitutionnelle, la détermination du nombre d’embryons à créer et à transférer dans le cadre d’une procédure d’implantation reste à l’appréciation du médecin qui tient compte de l’état de santé de la femme. Il ne doit pas être supérieur au nombre strictement nécessaire à la procréation.
En vertu de la loi sur la procréation médicalement assistée, il est interdit de procéder à la réduction embryonnaire de grossesses multiples, sauf dans les cas prévus par la loi n° 194 du 22 mai 1978 (loi sur l’interruption volontaire de grossesse).
Les sujets visés à l’article 5 sont informés du nombre et, s’ils le demandent, de l’évaluation des embryons produits à transférer dans l’utérus.
À la suite de la décision n° 96 du 5 juin 2015, la Cour constitutionnelle a levé l’interdiction qui était faite aux couples fertiles porteurs connus de maladies génétiques graves de recourir au diagnostic génétique préimplantatoire. Les maladies en question doivent répondre aux critères de gravité énoncés à l’article 6, paragraphe 1, lettre b) de la Loi n° 194 du 22 mai 1978 et être détectées par les prestataires publics de soins de santé compétents. Il appartient au Parlement de définir les critères d’agrément de ces structures.
Toute expérimentation sur l’embryon humain est interdite.
La recherche clinique et expérimentale sur l’embryon humain est autorisée à condition que les buts en soient exclusivement thérapeutiques et diagnostiques, en vue de la protection de la santé et du développement de l’embryon.
Sont interdites :
(a) la production d’embryons humains aux fins de recherche ou d’expérimentation ou à toutes fins autres que celles prévues par la loi. Interdiction des dons d’embryon à des fins de recherche : dans l’arrêt Parrillo c. Italie (requête n°46470/11) du 27 août 2015, la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme a reconnu que l’interdiction faite à une femme de donner à la recherche scientifique des embryons résultants d’une fécondation in vitro n’était pas contraire à son droit au respect de sa vie privée (il n’y avait pas de violation de l’article 8 (droit au respect de la vie privée) de la Convention européenne des droits de l’homme). Elle a également affirmé que les embryons humains ne sauraient être réduits à des « biens ». La Cour a considéré qu’il convenait de reconnaître à l’Italie une large marge d’appréciation dans cette affaire, qui mettait en jeu des questions morales et éthiques sensibles, d’autant plus qu’il n’y avait pas de consensus européen sur la question délicate du don d’embryons non destinés à l’implantation. La Cour constitutionnelle a rejeté un recours récent sur ces questions, affirmant qu’il appartenait au législateur de modifier la loi.
(b) toute forme de sélection dans un but eugénique, des embryons et des gamètes, ou des interventions qui, au moyen de techniques de sélection, de manipulation, ou par des procédés artificiels, visent à altérer le patrimoine génétique de l’embryon ou du gamète, ou à en prédéterminer les caractéristiques génétiques, à l’exception des interventions à des fins diagnostiques et thérapeutiques. Cela dit, l’arrêt n° 229/2015 de la Cour constitutionnelle n’a supprimé l’interdiction de la sélection d’embryons que dans des circonstances particulières, considérant qu’il ne s’agissait pas d’une infraction lorsqu’elle vise à prévenir l’implantation d’embryons nés de couples présentant un risque de transmission de maladies génétiques graves, conformément à l’article 6, 1 B de la loi 194 (relative à l’interruption de grossesse) dans des structures publiques désignées. Une question de constitutionnalité concernant l’article 13 (paragraphes 3, alinéa b) et 4) de la Loi n° 40/2004 a été soulevée. Le jugement rendu est conforme à l’arrêt précité.
Il souligne toutefois la protection nécessaire a conférer à l’embryon humain à la protection nécessaire, rappelant que « l’enjeu est ici la nécessité de protéger la dignité de l’embryon, à laquelle aucune autre réponse que la cryoconservation ne peut actuellement être apportée. Un embryon, quel que soit le statut juridique plus ou moins déterminé associé au début de la vie, ne saurait être réduit à un simple matériau biologique ».
(c) des interventions de clonage par transfert de noyau ou de scission précoce de l’embryon ou d’ectogenèse, à des fins de procréation ou de recherche ;
(d) la fécondation d’un gamète humain par un gamète d’espèce différente et la production d’hybrides ou de chimères.
4. Sanctions
Le texte de la loi 40/2004 prévoit différentes sanctions progressives en cas de violation de la loi, qui s’appliquent aux médecins et aux Centres autorisés mettant en œuvre les techniques de procréation assistée.
L’homme ou la femme auxquels sont appliquées les techniques ne peuvent être sanctionnés que s’ils n’ont pas suivi les procédures prévues. La sanction pour insémination hétérologue a été supprimée. Les sanctions qui restent en vigueur sont définies à l’article 12 de la Loi n° 40/2004.
5. Autorisations
Un système d’autorisation régionale des structures jugées adéquates est prévu, sur la base :
(a) des données techniques, scientifiques et d’organisation de ces structures ;
(b) des qualifications du personnel.
Les conditions requises sont établies par actes des Régions.
Il existe un Registre obligatoire des structures autorisées, établi et tenu par l’Institut supérieur de la santé, qui suit l’application des techniques de procréation médicalement assistée, les embryons formés et les enfants nés à la suite de l’application de ces techniques.
L’Institut supérieur de la santé prépare le rapport annuel à présenter au Parlement.
Après la décision n° 162/2014, le ministère de la Santé a approuvé les Lignes directrices pour l’application des techniques de reproduction hétérologues au couple qui reçoit le gamète. En ce qui concerne le don de gamètes, l’Italie adoptera la Directive UE 2006/17, ALL.III, PAR.3,4 et ses modifications ultérieures. Le texte sera approuvé dans le système normatif (sous la forme d’un décret gouvernemental). L’un des éléments fondamentaux issus du système juridique Italien est le principe selon lequel le don de sperme et d’ovocyte doit être un acte volontaire, altruiste et non rémunéré.
Ireland - Legal regulation or practice and access to MAP
Until recently in Ireland the provision of assisted human reproduction (AHR) services was largely unregulated. However, in April 2015 Parliament passed the Children and Family Relationships Act which deals with the limited topic of parentage in the case of donor assisted human reproduction. Under the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, gamete and embryo donation are permitted on a non-anonymous basis. In addition, this legislation provides for the establishment of a national register of gamete/embryo donors, recipients and donor-conceived children (the National Donor-Conceived Person Register), which will allow donor-conceived children to access certain information regarding the gamete/embryo donor involved in procedures leading to their conception.
Moreover, although AHR services are not currently regulated by any specific health legislation, in February 2015, the Minister for Health received Government approval to draft a General Scheme of legislative provisions which would deal with a wide range of issues from the beginning to the end of the AHR process. Following the completion of the General Scheme, the Government approved its publication and the drafting of a Bill on assisted human reproduction based on this General Scheme. The drafting of this Bill is currently ongoing.
Under the proposed legislation, a number of practices will be regulated, including gamete and embryo donation, surrogacy and the assignment of parentage in such cases, pre-implantation genetic screening/diagnosis, sex selection for medical purposes, and posthumous assisted reproduction as well as associated research. It is also proposed that the legislation will establish a regulator to promote patient safety and good clinical practice in the area of assisted human reproduction. The regulator will maintain the National Donor-Conceived Person Register, establish the National Surrogacy Register and maintain records of all assisted human reproduction activities and services.
In January 2018 the General Scheme was submitted to the relevant parliamentary committee for review as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process. This committee published the report of its review in July 2019, making recommendations which include proposals related to both broad policy objectives and more technical amendments. Its recommendations are being considered during the ongoing process of drafting the AHR Bill.
Norvège - Legal regulation or practice and access to MAP
- Title of the law: The act relating to the application of biotechnology in human medicine etc
- Adopted 5 December 2003, partly into force from 1 January 2004, 1 September 2004 and 1 January 2005. Limited use of PGD was allowed (only in cases of X-linked diseases), and research on surplus embryos was banned. An amendment in force from September 2004 allowed PGD also in cases of serious hereditary diseases for which no treatment is available. New regulations regarding PGD and research on surplus embryos entered into force in July 2008; allowing research on surplus embryos under certain conditions, and PGD or PGD/HLA in situations of serious hereditary disease. New regulations regarding access to MAP for lesbian couples entered into force in January 2009. In 2013 the act was amended to allow MAP to otherwise fertile couples, where one person has a serious and chronic sexually transmitted infection. In 2020 single women who live alone were given access to MAP, and from 2021 oocyte donation is allowed. Egg donation is accessible only to couples able to use their own sperm. Same-sex female couples can donate oocytes to each other (partner donation) and use sperm from a donor.
Iceland - Legal regulation or practice and access to MAP
- Title of the law: Artificial Fertilisation Act N° 55/1996
- Date of adoption and entry into force: 1 June 1996
- Published in: http://eng.heilbrigdisraduneyti.is/laws-and -regulations/nr/685
- Indicate if process of revision is ongoing and, in your answers, provide information on provision in the draft law: No process of revision has yet been embarked upon, a parliamentary resolution on the necessity of a revision, specifically with regards to issues pertaining to embryonic stem cell research, is being discussed.
Lithuania - Legal regulation or practice and access to MAP
- Title of the law: The Law on the Assisted Reproduction of the Republic of Lithuania
- Date of adoption: 14th September 2016 (amended 24th May 2022, 30th May 2019 and 17th January 2017)
- Entry into force: 1st January 2017
- Published in: the Lithuanian Register of Legal Acts
In the last revision of the Law entered into force on the 1st of July 2022, the requirement to store embryos for the unlimited period of time was abolished. This requirement was replaced by a requirement to store embryos for 10 years after the assisted reproduction procedure.
Malta - Sperm/oocyte/embryo donation
6. Is donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos permitted in your country? Yes.
Regarding ‘embryos’ this is when the couple do not use the remaining frozen embryos; government can then take custody through the Authority set up by the Embryo protection Act and give them up for adoption.
Donation of gametes is only possible by a ‘confidential agreement between the donor and the licensee:’
7. Are there specific compensation arrangements for donations of sperm/oocytes/embryos? No
8. Are there specific criteria for donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos? Yes.
No age limit stated
The Embryo Protection authority ensure high standards. In the case of adoption of embryos a medical practitioner must declare the prospective parent physically fit.
See also 6 above.
Donation of embryos remains confidential and anonymity of the biological parents is entrenched into the law. Besides, all parental and filial rights are relinquished. That is to say, for example, the donated embryo would have no right to inherit the biological parents who gave up the embryo. Conversely the former would have no right on the latter.
9. Are there specific non-medical criteria for selection of gametes/embryos to be used for MAP? No
10. Are there special measures for the prevention of consanguinity? Yes. There is an official register kept by the Authority. Article 4, Section 3 states that ‘the Authority shall make all reasonable efforts to match prospective adoptive parents with the embryos who require an adoption placement’.
11. In a homosexual couple, is a legal relationship possible between a child and the partner of the legal parent? Yes
North Macedonia - Sperm/oocyte/embryo donation
6. Is donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos permitted in your country? No. There is no legal regulation in the country therefore no gamete banks aiming to this are functioning.
7. Are there specific compensation arrangements for donations of sperm/oocytes/embryos? No
8. Are there specific criteria for donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos? NA
9. Are there specific non-medical criteria for selection of gametes/embryos to be used for MAP? NA
10. Are there special measures for the prevention of consanguinity? With the exception of the occasional donations for inseminations with fresh sperm which may be done outside of any control, other donor procedures have not been performed in the country.
11. In a homosexual couple, is a legal relationship possible between a child and the partner of the legal parent? No. No legal regulations.
North Macedonia - Current debate and specific situations
19. Is there an important current debate in your country on these or related issues? Some debates have just started in many professional organisations - obstetricians/gynaecologists.
20. Delegations are invited to provide information, in this section, on particular cases encountered in their country, and especially their case-law.
Current healthcare law predates the era of MAP. No updates concerning MAP have been made.
In family law there are standard articles addressing the contesting of the paternity but not in relation to MAP.
North Macedonia - Legal aspects
1. Is access to medically assisted procreation (MAP)
a. restricted to heterosexual couples? Yes
b. possible for women not living in a heterosexual couple? No
Türkiye - Sperm/oocyte/embryo donation
6. Is donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos permitted in your country? No
7. Are there specific compensation arrangements for donations of sperm/oocytes/embryos? No
8. Are there specific criteria for donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos? Oocyte and embryo donation are prohibited.
9. Are there specific non-medical criteria for selection of gametes/embryos to be used for MAP? No
10. Are there special measures for the prevention of consanguinity? Yes. Sperm, oocyte and embryo donation is forbidden.
11. In a homosexual couple, is a legal relationship possible between a child and the partner of the legal parent? No
Türkiye - Financial aspects
3. Are MAP procedures covered by the social security system? Yes
4. Are there specific criteria for such coverage? Yes. Married, infertile couples, older than 23, younger than 40 years old can benefit from assisted reproduction (IVF) techniques
5. Is the financial coverage limited to a number of MAP procedures? No
Türkiye - Medical aspects
2. Are there specific criteria for access to MAP?
Medical reasons:
a. Infertility:
For a heterosexual couple? Yes; For women not living in a heterosexual couple? No
b. Risk of transmission of a disease
For a heterosexual couple No?; For women not living in a heterosexual couple? No
c. Other N/A
Ireland - Right to know about his or her biological origin for children born after MAP
16. Is donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos anonymous? No. As previously indicated, under the Children and Family Relationships Act gamete and embryo donation is permitted on a non-anonymous basis. Gamete and embryo donors will be required to provide name; place and date of birth; nationality, place and date on which s/he provided the donation; and contact details. Once a donor-conceived child has attained the age of 18 years s/he may request the name, date of birth and contacts details of the relevant donor, as recorded in the National Donor-Conceived Person Register.
17. Is it possible to obtain information about the biological origin of a child born after gametes of embryo donation?
i. For the child him or herself Yes; ii. For the parents Yes; iii. For a court NA
According to the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, a donor-conceived child who has attained the age of 18 years, or the parent of a donor-conceived child who has not attained the age of 18 years, may request the following information from the Register:
(a) information other than the relevant donor’s name, date of birth and contact details, that is recorded on the Register in respect of the relevant donor;
(b) the number of persons who have been born as a result of the use in a donor-assisted human reproduction procedure of a gamete donated by the relevant donor, and the sex and year of birth of each of them.
In addition, the Act provides that, a donor-conceived child who has attained the age of 18 years may request the name, date of birth and contacts details of a relevant donor, as recorded in the Register. The donor must be issued with a notice informing him or her that a request has been made by the donor-conceived child. The requested information may be released 12 weeks from the date on which on which the notice is sent (with very restrictive exceptions).
a. Identity of the donor(s)
i. For the child him or herself Yes; ii. For the parents Yes; iii. For a court NA
See answer to previous question
b. Certain health information concerning the donor(s)
i. For the child him or herself; ii. For the parents; iii. For a court
Under the proposed assisted human reproduction legislation, medical information relating to the donor may be released to a medical practitioner in order to avoid an imminent and serious risk to the health of a person or to enable the medical practitioner to provide medical advice to a person regarding the existence of a genetic or hereditary condition.
c. Other information
i. For the child him or herself; ii. For the parents; iii. For a court NA
18. Is it possible to contest maternity and paternity of children born utilising MAP and under which conditions? Yes/No.
According to the Irish Constitution, the woman who has given birth to a child is always regarded as the legal mother. This assertion was challenged in the Irish Courts, but it was upheld in the Supreme Court in 2014 in the MR and Anor – v- An tArd Chlaraitheoir & Ors (Surrogacy) case.
According to the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, the parents of a donor-conceived child are the mother and her husband, civil partner or cohabitant as the case may be. A donor of a gamete or embryo is not regarded as the parent of a donor-conceived child.
Iceland - Right to know about his or her biological origin for children born after MAP
16. Is donation of sperm/oocytes/embryos anonymous? sperm Yes/oocytes Yes/embryos -
See art.18 reg.568/1997 (If a donor wishes to remain anonymous, health workers are obliged to ensure that this is respected. In this case, the donor may neither receive information about the couple receiving the donated gamete or the child, nor the couple or the child receive information about the donor. If a donor does not wish to remain anonymous, the institution shall preserve information about him in a special file. If the donation of gamete leads to the birth of a child, information about the child and the couple who received the gamete shall be kept in the same file. A child born on account of a gamete donation where the donor does not wish to remain anonymous can at the age of 18 gain access to a file pursuant to paragraph 2 for the purpose of obtaining information about the identity of the donor. If a child receives information about the gamete donor at the institution, the said institution shall as soon as possible inform the donor that the information has been given.)
17. Is it possible to obtain information about the biological origin of a child born after gametes of embryo donation?
i. For the child him or herself Yes; ii. For the parents No; iii. For a court No
The child cannot obtain information if the donor has wished to remain anonymous, See art.18 reg.568/1997.
a. Identity of the donor(s)
i. For the child him or herself Yes; ii. For the parents No; iii. For a court No
The child cannot obtain information if the donor has wished to remain anonymous, See art.18 reg.568/1997.
b. Certain health information concerning the donor(s)
i. For the child him or herself Yes; ii. For the parents No; iii. For a court No
The child cannot obtain information if the donor has wished to remain anonymous, See art.18 reg.568/1997.
c. Other information
i. For the child him or herself Yes; ii. For the parents No; iii. For a court No
The child cannot obtain information if the donor has wished to remain anonymous, See art.18 reg.568/1997.
18. Is it possible to contest maternity and paternity of children born utilising MAP and under which conditions? No. See art.6, Act in respect of Children, no. 76/2003 (A man who has agreed that his wife be artificially inseminated according to the Act on is deemed to be the father of a child so conceived. The same applies to a man and a woman who have registered their cohabitation with the National Registry. A man who donates sperm for the purpose of it being used in artificial insemination of a woman other than his wife or cohabiting spouse, cf. paragraph 1, according to the provisions of the Act on Artificial Insemination will not be deemed to be the father of a child conceived with his sperm. -A man who donates sperm for another purpose than stipulated in paragraph 2 is deemed to be the father of a child conceived with his sperm unless the sperm is used without his knowledge or after his decease.)
Switzerland - Legal regulation or practice and access to MAP
- Title of the law: Federal Act on Medically Assisted Reproduction (Reproductive Medicine Act, RMA), Reproductive Medicine Ordinance (RMO)
- Date of adoption and entry into force RMA: 18.12.1989 / 1.1.2001 and RMO: 4.12.2000 / 1.1.2001
- Published in: https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classified-compilation/20001938/index.html , and
- https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classified-compilation/20002342/index.html
- Revision: June 5th,2016, popular vote on the revision of the RMA regarding the regulation of Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) (prohibited until now)