Bill banning surrogation for foreigners to be submitted to parliament in accelerated manner – minister

The bill regulating surrogation and in vitro fertilisation, which also bans surrogation for foreign nationals, will be submitted to the parliament for discussions in an accelerated manner due to controversy, Zurad Azarashvili, the Georgian health minister said on Monday. 

In his comments after the cabinet meeting, the official stressed the bill had been drafted in accordance with “reality”, reducing the risks related to the alienation of children and organ trafficking.

“The bill is not only about surrogacy. It covers all issues related to reproductive health, including in vitro fertilisation”, Azarashvili said, adding “it is important to solve the demographic problems”. 

Pointing to risks that a child could be taken out of the country before their birth, Azarashvili claimed the possibility would be limited starting from January 1,2024. 

Prime minister Irakli Garibashvili last week announced surrogation would be available only for the country’s citizens. 

“Our citizens, ladies, are offered the so-called consumer business. After that, no one knows who will take the child born here, which couple will take it. There is information, same-sex couples [also] adopt them”, he said.

Garibashvili claimed that in France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Lithuania, Estonia, surrogacy was completely prohibited, while in Belgium, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Canada, Australia and New Zealand it was partially allowed. 

The law has caused controversies and backlash particularly from the clinics that are engaged in surrogacy and in vitro fertilisation.