Britain bans Internet sale of fresh sperm

LONDON [UPI] -- Internet sperm providers are to be contacted by Britain's Department of Health this week to inform them of new regulations covering the sale of fresh sperm.

The new rules will require that all sperm samples gathered by online providers be frozen and tested for viruses before being sold, the same regulations the government requires of Britain's health clinics, The Independent reported.

"We are saying they will not be able to sell fresh sperm direct," said a Department of Health source. "They will have to guarantee it has been screened for six months, the same way as clinics do. They will be subject to the same rules and will have to freeze sperm."

Online sale of sperm in Britain has increased dramatically recently due to the British government's decision to limit confidentiality in to sperm donations at clinics throughout the country.

The online providers will have until next April to conform to the new regulations, the newspaper said, and the effect of the new rules will likely be that such samples will remain frozen by female customers until self-insemination.