The National Health Commission reiterated on Friday that China bans any form of surrogacy and advised individuals with infertility to seek treatment from qualified assisted reproduction service providers.
Recent media reports show that illegal agencies are carrying out surrogacy activities in nonmedical settings by unlicensed and unprofessional personnel, posing severe risks to patients, Yang Jinrui, a spokesman for the commission, said.
He said such illegal agencies often abuse ovulation-inducing drugs, which can cause ovarian damage, leading to massive hemorrhage and serious infections, and may even endanger lives.
He added that poor conditions for embryo culture and transfer can result in miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and severe birth defects in newborns.
"All forms of surrogacy are strictly prohibited in China, and organized surrogacy activities constitute an illegal and criminal act and will face severe legal punishment," he said during a news conference.
He also noted that so-called surrogacy agreements are not protected by law and that participants may face legal accountability.
A report by the United Nations Human Rights Council has found that surrogacy seriously harms women's rights and interests and causes harm to children, and has recommended the progressive prohibition of all forms of surrogacy.
"People experiencing fertility difficulties may seek standardized diagnosis and treatment at qualified assisted reproductive institutions, information about which can be found on the official websites of local health departments," he added.
He also encouraged the public to report information about illegal surrogacy to local public security and health departments or via the 12345 hotline.
In recent months, health authorities in Hunan and Hubei provinces said they had shut down several underground surrogacy laboratories jointly with local public security authorities and had launched investigations.
