Draft Bill Proposes 100-Year Storage of Sperm and Egg Donor Information

Information on the origins of children born through fertility treatments using donated ⁢sperm or eggs will be ⁢stored for 100 years​ at the National‍ Center for Child ⁤Health and Development, according to a bill compiled by a nonpartisan ⁣Diet group. ⁢The group, chaired by⁢ former Internal Affairs and Communications Minister ⁢Seiko Noda, ‍plans to‌ submit ‌the bill to‌ the Diet before the end of the year. The final draft presented⁣ at a general meeting of ‍the group on Monday states that information on sperm‍ and egg donors, couples who received the treatments, ⁣and their offspring⁢ should be ‌kept‌ at the center for 100 years in order to respect a ​child’s ‍right‌ to know about their origins. The ​draft also establishes a system where information on donors can be disclosed after ​their ⁣offspring​ turn 18‌ with consent from each donor. Additionally, it introduces certification for medical institutions​ handling donated sperm and eggs, as well‍ as an approval system for intermediary organizations involved in these ⁣treatments. The draft includes provisions that prohibit giving‌ or receiving benefits related to these treatments and outlines penalties‍ such as fines and ‌imprisonment for violations. It also states⁤ that ⁢systems related to this bill will‌ be ⁤reviewed five years after ‌its implementation with necessary measures taken⁣ accordingly.