BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Health on Thursday ordered health departments and supervising bodies to tighten control over assisted reproductive technology (ART) and sperm banks.

    The circular called for strict penalties for the unauthorized practice of assisted reproductive technology and operation of sperm banks.

    Those institutions approved by the government would also face penalties if found violating technical standards and ethical principles or overstepping their operational ranges.

    "Their licenses for conducting ART and setting up sperm bans will be revoked," the ministry said in the circular.

    The ministry also instructed local authorities to rigorously review new applications and strictly control the number of institutions authorized for assisted reproductive technologies.

    Eighty-eight organizations have been authorized to carry out ART so far, and 10 have been approved to establish sperm banks.

    The ministry said it had discovered cases involving surrogate motherhood and the sale of eggs and sperm, which were illegal in China. There were signs that some institutions, tempted by huge financial rewards, conducted the ART for commercial use.

    The ministry instructed local health authorities to conduct thorough inspections of institutions in their jurisdictions.

    "Those practicing ART and setting up sperm banks without approval should be penalized severely and their future applications should be rejected," the circular said.

    The Health Ministry in March approved 12 medical organizations to launch training centers for ART and human sperm banks.

    Medical workers in government-approved institutions would have to receive training in these centers before applying to carry out assisted reproduction treatment.