Egg donor site dodges new laws

A WEBSITE which supplies sperm to lesbians and single women wanting to have a baby yesterday claimed it had found a way around new laws on donor anonymity.

From April 1, all sperm and egg donors will lose their right to anonymity, meaning any children born as a result of a donation can find out the identity of their donor when they reach 18.

This has led to growing fears over a shortage of donors and increased “fertility tourism” as people head abroad for treatment.

Controversial internet sperm provider ManNotIncluded is now launching a new service to allow women to buy anonymous and fully-quarantined sperm from overseas and have it delivered to their home.

The anonymity law applies to eggs and sperm that are frozen and stored.

The company says it has got around the law because the sperm comes from countries where anonymity is in place, and the sperm is in a constantly thawing state while it is in the UK, falling outside the guidelines of the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority.

ManNotIncluded also supplies fresh sperm through anonymous donors, which does not fall under the new rules.

John Gonzalez, website founder, criticised the law lifting anonymity on donors.

A spokesman for the HFEA said: “We are concerned about these plans to offer completely anonymous sperm and are seeking urgent legal advice as to whether the service can offer sperm in this way.

“We would repeat our advice that people should not use services that are not licensed by the HFEA,” the spokesman said.