News Release

2005-34
May 2, 2005
For immediate release

Health Canada announces project to explore altruistic (not for payment) donation of sperm and eggs in Canada

OTTAWA - Health Canada has issued today a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a pilot project to explore strategies for the altruistic (not for payment) donation of human sperm and eggs in Canada.

As part of the implementation of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, Health Canada is inviting assisted human reproduction (AHR) clinics across the country to work together to develop and implement strategies to recruit altruistic donations of sperm and eggs in Canada. Before the Act came into force, payment could be made to donors, but under the Act, as of April 22, 2004, the purchase, offer to purchase or advertising to purchase sperm or eggs from a donor is not allowed.

Health Canada will contract with one AHR clinic to lead the development and implementation of known and innovative strategies. The lead clinic will be required to work with at least two other clinics, with one region undertaking the project in French. This approach will ensure that a range of interests from different regions of the country are reflected in the project outcome. The lead clinic will manage the project and report back to Health Canada. A professional trained in developing and evaluating methodologies will be available to the clinics during the project to help them develop the data collection and to assist with data analysis.

The information gathered will be made available to all AHR clinics across the country to help them recruit altruistic donors and will be used by Health Canada to inform its policy development process.

The pilot project will take 18 months to complete. The value of the RFP is a maximum of $325,000. To view the RFP, go to www.MERX.com.

The Assisted Human Reproduction Act prohibits human cloning and other unacceptable activities, while protecting the health and safety of Canadians who use AHR. The Act provides controls for AHR-related research and for the establishment of the Assisted Human Reproduction Agency of Canada, responsible for licensing, inspecting and enforcing activities controlled under the Act.

For more information go to the Health Canada website at: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/reproduction

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Media Enquiries:
Carole Saindon
Health Canada
(613) 957-1588

Adèle Blanchard
Office of Minister Dosanjh
Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200

Public Enquiries:
(613) 957-2991