This is the first stage of work to regulate assisted reproductive services and improve access to information on heritage for donor-conceived people.
29 August 2024
In brief:
- New laws will better support donor-conceived Canberrans and their families.
- New regulatory requirements for clinical practice are being introduced.
- A new ACT donor register will help donor-conceived people access family information.
People who use and are conceived using assisted reproductive technology (ART) are now better protected in the ACT.
A new piece of legislation – the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act (2024) – is in place.
It requires Canberra ART providers to continue adhering to strong clinical and ethical standards.
These will better support the health and wellbeing of donor-conceived Canberrans and their families.
Improving access
The new legislation is the first stage in the ACT Government’s work to regulate and improve access to ART services in Canberra.
It supports Canberrans who:
- use ART to become parents
- are donor-conceived and wish to access information about their parents’ donor, in a timely and sensitive manner.
It also introduces regulatory requirements for clinical practice by ART providers, including:
- registration requirements
- conditions around providing clinical services
- requirements for gamete (sperm or eggs) retrieval and use
- requirements for embryo creation and storage.
“The legal regulation of the ART industry is a necessary step for all those who access fertility treatment in the territory and will help assure Canberrans that the industry is operating ethically and that they will be in safe hands while accessing treatment,” National Director of Donor Conceived Australia Aimee Shackleton said.
An ACT donor register
The new law ensures donor-conceived Canberrans will be able to access information about their parents’ donor/s from their ART providers. This includes information on genetic heritage and any half-siblings they may have.
It also establishes a donor register. A register will make it an easier, more streamlined process for donor-conceived people to find such information.
Stage 1 of the donor register
The new law sets up the first stage of the register.
Through this, donor-conceived individuals who are conceived after 29 March 2025 can access details about their donor, including identifying information. Parents will also be able to access this information, where the gametes were donated after 29 March 2025.
This first stage will also include the establishment of a voluntary register. This will start in March 2025.
This will allow for existing donor-conceived people and past donors to voluntarily add their details to the register.
“We are grateful the ACT Government has legislated to create a voluntary register enabling those who wish to make connections with family, and share vitally important medical information, to now do so in a safe and appropriate manner,” Aimee said.
Stage 2 of the donor register
The second stage will include a retrospective register for all donor-conceived individuals. There, people can access information about their parents’ donor, irrespective of when they were conceived or born, if those records still exist.
This will be put in place after extensive community and stakeholder consultation.
If you have questions about the new laws, email art.healthpolicy@act.gov.au
Read the legislation at Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2024
Find out more at act.gov.au and search ‘Assisted reproductive technology’.
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