Sperm bank urges easier access boost European population

Sperm bank urges easier access boost European population

AGENCY REPORT 
23 APR 2018

The world’s largest sperm bank has urged the European Union (EU) to make access to donor sperms easier in order to boost Europe’s birth rates, media reported on Monday.

According to figures provided by EU’s statistics agency, Eurostat, the fertility rates has steadily declined from the mid-1960s, through to the turn of the century in the EU member states.

“In 2015, the total fertility rate in the current 28-member bloc was 1.58 live births per woman.

“The level is below a fertility rate of around 2.1 live births per woman, which is considered to be the average number required to keep the population size constant in the absence of migration,’’ Eurostat added.

In response to the grim numbers, sperm banks across Europe are calling on the EU to make changes to its current regulations in order to increase birth rates and halt the population slump.

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According to the minutes of a meeting between European Commission officials and the world’s largest sperm bank Cryos International, “population growth in the EU has slowed down and that it is a priority that the rate of childbirth be increased.”

“This objective would be supported by increasing access to donor sperm,’’ the Guardian reported on Friday, citing the minutes as saying.

According to Cryos International, “the demand for donor sperm has increased by around 500 per cent over recent years, but only 10 percent of those who need access to medical treatment with donated gametes are receiving it.”

“However, European sperm banks are closing after the enforcement of new EU regulations on staffing levels,’’ the Guardian reported.

Report says some EU member states require traceable donor identity and have even imposed tax on donor sperm as it (sperm) is treated as “goods” liable to value-added tax.

“It is already difficult to recruit adequate numbers of donors but that rules put in place by regulators, for example, the dropping of donor anonymity in some member states, had made this situation worse.

“Access to (non-partner) donated sperm is the key challenge in Europe,’’ Cryos International said in the minutes.

The world’s largest sperm bank suggested that the EU should consider the demand and allow an open single market for sperm.

(Xinhua/NAN)