In future children in Belgium that were conceived using sperm from a sperm donor will be able to find out the identity of their biological father. The Federal Cabinet gave the green light for the abolition of compulsory anonymity for sperm donors at a meeting on Friday morning. From the age of 12, children will have access to information such as the donor's hair colour and height. From the age of 16 they will be able to access on information on, for example, the donor's name and nationality.
Currently, the donation of egg or sperm cells is anonymous in Belgium. This often leaves donor-conceived children with unanswered questions. However, this is now set to change. The Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Flemish socialist) told journalists that “Many donor children have questions about their origins and they have a right to an answer. Knowing where you came from is a human right.”
Prospective parents will be informed at the start of the process that donors are not anonymous and that their child will later have access to certain information. During treatment, future parents can obtain medical data about the donor and once the child is born, physical characteristics and non-identifiable data can also be added.
Donor children will be able to request non-identifying data such as hair colour, eye colour and height from the Institute for Donor Data from the age of 12. The Institute for Donor Data has been set up for this purpose. If a child is the age of 16, parents will be notified if their child submits a request to the Institute for Donor Data. One a child reaches the age of 16 they may request identifying data such as the name, date of birth and nationality of the sperm donor.
Donor children will also have the right to know how many other children were born to the same donor. If it turns out that one of them has also requested the information, they can be put in contact with each other with mutual consent. This will only be possible from the age of 16.
The new rules apply to donations made once the new law comes into force. For anonymous donations made in the past, donors can decide for themselves whether to break their anonymity. An appeal will be launched asking them to do so, but they will be able to remain anonymous if they wish.
There will be a 6-month transitional period during which fertility centres will be allowed to use the remaining anonymous material still in stock. Once this has elapsed anonymous material may no longer be used, except in exceptional situations.