5 Countries Where Surrogacy is Illegal

Surrogacy in most parts of the world is illegal. In Europe and some countries in Asia, it is an unlawful procedure. In the United States, some states, such as Arizona and North Dakota, do not allow surrogacy.

German

The practice of surrogacy is prohibited in Germany by law. In the year 1991, the Embryo Protection Act was passed which strictly restricts German medical procedures in the country which entail illegal actions with nascent human life.

Italy

Surrogacy is banned in Italy and extending the ban, a bill was passed this July, penalising people who go abroad to have a child via surrogacy. Parents can adopt the option of IVF to conceive a child.

Spain

Spain also bans all forms of surrogacy practices. The country considers it a very serious offence under the current Law 14/2006 which assists in reproduction techniques. Authorities have highlighted possible sexual exploitation, possible commercialisation of the surrogate mother’s body when the contract is formalised for a price and some other ethical reasons to ban surrogacy.

France

In France, since 1994, any surrogacy arrangement that is commercial or altruistic is illegal or unlawful and is not sanctioned by the law.

China

China has severely cracked down on all illegal activities related to reproductive practices, including buying or selling sperm or eggs and surrogacy. The Asian country currently allows only married women to access fertility treatments such as IVF or egg-freezing technologies.