Approval from the Reproductive Technology Council (external site) is required to export donated sperm, eggs or embryos out of Western Australia (WA).
Donated sperm, eggs or embryos can be imported into WA. Clinics receiving donated sperm, eggs or embryos must ensure that the donation complied with WA laws.
Importing
Sperm eggs or embryos may be imported for use in assisted reproductive technology (artificial insemination, in vitro fertilisation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection) procedures.
You don’t need approval to import your own sperm, eggs or embryos into WA .
If you want to import donated sperm, eggs or embryos you or your clinic must be able to confirm that the following criteria have been met:
- screening, quarantine and infection control standards equivalent to what is required in WA
- counselling has been provided to the same standard as what would be required in WA and the donor has provided effective consent
- the donation was altruistic/not for commercial gain
- the use of the sperm, eggs or embryos would not breach the five-family limit OR the Reproductive Technology Council has approved an application for use
- information, including identifying information on the donor, is available for the WA Reproductive Technology Registers OR the Reproductive Technology Council has approved an application for use.
Clinics can face severe penalties if they receive sperm, eggs or embryos that don’t meet the criteria above.
Exporting
You don’t need approval to export your own sperm, eggs or embryos out of WA if the use for which they are being exported is not prohibited. Prohibited uses include commercial donation or surrogacy or breaching the five-family limit.
Approval from the Reproductive Technology Council (external site) is required to export donated sperm eggs or embryos.
Applicants must agree to provide information to the WA Health Reproductive Technology Registers (externals site) about the recipient and outcome of donation.