# European fertility group calls for limits on sperm donations International standards demanded for offspring numbers per donor. - **Source:** [MIT Technology Review](https://www.technologyreview.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-10 - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/13f84acf-e70f-4ce3-b05d-692857cd046c ## Issues with anonymous donors Despite the 2004 ban on anonymous sperm donation in the Netherlands, destroyed records left many donor-conceived individuals unable to trace biological parents. People like Ties van der Meer discover they may have dozens or even hundreds of half-siblings worldwide. ## Genetic risks and ethical concerns Hundreds of children from a single donor raise risks of unintentional consanguinity. A Danish donor was found to carry a cancer-prone gene passed to 197 children, highlighting the critical need for stringent health screenings in donation programs. ## Current national regulations Malta and Cyprus allow only one child per donor, while the UK limits contributions to 10 families. However, cross-border sperm trade complicates enforcement, as seen with Denmark’s 12-family limit despite being a major exporter. ## Proposed pan-European limit ESHRE suggests an initial cap of 50 families per donor, acknowledged as high but pragmatic. Experts advocate reducing this to 15 families long-term, though the ideal number remains debated given psychological and genetic considerations. ## Regulatory challenges Global sperm trade undermines local limits—Denmark exports extensively despite its 12-family rule. The lack of a unified system enables donors like Jonathan Meijer to father 600+ children across multiple jurisdictions before legal intervention. ## Path forward ESHRE’s framework could inspire global standards, but divergent approaches (e.g., the US’s 25-birth suggestion for 800k populations) pose hurdles. Collaboration among clinics, banks, and governments is vital to protect donor-conceived individuals’ rights and health. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/07/10/1140289/sperm-donors-need-limits-says-a-european-fertility-group/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._