European fertility group calls for limits on sperm donors

Ties van der Meer, 47, cannot say how many half‑siblings he has because he was born in 1976 from anonymous sperm donated at a private fertility clinic in the Netherlands. The clinic, which operated before the country’s 2004 ban on anonymous gamete donation, was run by a doctor who later destroyed any records that could have identified the donor, according to the physician’s own statements. As a result, van der Meer and other donor‑conceived patients have no means of tracing their biological relatives.

The Dutch prohibition on anonymous donation was intended to give children the right to know their genetic origins, but the clinic’s record destruction has undermined that goal. Legal experts note that the loss of donor information creates a gap in the national database that could affect future fertility services and genetic counseling. The case has reignited debate over the responsibilities of fertility clinics to preserve donor records and the rights of donor‑conceived individuals to access their genetic heritage.

In the wake of the ban, the Netherlands has tightened regulations, requiring clinics to maintain detailed donor files for a minimum of 25 years. Van der Meer’s situation illustrates the consequences when those standards are not met, highlighting the need for robust oversight to protect the interests of both donors and recipients.