China may ban surrogacy in the country

20.04.2015

The Chinese government has announced plans to restrict surrogacy in the country. These measures include close monitoring of medical equipment and drugs commonly used in surrogacy, and the punishment of any doctors or institutions who participate.

A government statement on the subject said that “surrogacy upsets the natural order of childbirth” and “severely interferes with China’s lawful infertility treatments”.

As for today, there is no law in China which explicitly bans surrogacy, trade in fertilised eggs and embryos is illegal. The country also banned hospitals from assisting with surrogate pregnancies.

These restrictions were implemented in 2001 despite a growing rate of infertility among Chinese women. In 2012, a study by the China Population Association found that 12 per cent of women in the country who were old enough to have children were infertile. Twenty years ago, infertility only affected three per cent of women.

Although the country offers various infertility treatments, many would-be parents still view surrogacy as an option.

However, information on how to find a potential surrogate and advertisements for related services are available online. To combat this, the Chinese government has ordered internet providers to ban any related content from appearing online. Newspapers and magazines have also been told to remove any information about surrogacy services from their publications and websites.

Based on: marilynstowe.co.uk

Read also: