(ECNS) -- China will continue to crack down on childbirth surrogacy, said Mao Qun'an, spokesperson for China's National Health and Family Planning Commission.
Mao said at a press conference that China vows to provide safe, standard and effective assisted reproductive technology to people.
Medical institutes or workers are forbidden from providing surrogacy in any form, he said, citing a regulation issued by the former ministry of health, which was dissolved in 2013 and had its functions integrated into the commission.
Surrogacy is a complicated issue closely related to law, ethics and other fields, with most countries in the world banning the practice, Mao added.
A number of cases involving surrogacy were discovered in recent years and authorities will continue to act tough on such illegal practices, according to the spokesperson.
Although banned by health authorities, surrogacy was found to operate underground in some parts of China in recent years. Surrogate mothers and their agents often make a profit through providing such services.
