Zhu Lieyu, a deputy of China's National People's Congress (NPC) seeks to criminalize paid surrogacy during the country's annual legislative session.

Zhu Lieyu, a deputy of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) seeks to criminalize paid surrogacy during the country’s annual legislative session. [Photo by He Shan/China.org.cn]

Zhu, who is also a partner at Guangdong Guardian Law Firm, submitted a motion to the ongoing session of the NPC, in which he suggests criminalizing "the act of soliciting women to sell egg and the illegal harvesting of eggs."

Illegal surrogacy came into the headlines recently when some media reports brought underground surrogacy agencies to light. A report by state-run China Central Television this January found that the trade can charge up to several million yuan and has attracted many women, even minors, to sell eggs.

Current Chinese regulations ban medical organizations from egg trading, but illegal organizations and agencies are not subject to the regulations, according to Zhu.

Zhu suggests adding the crime of "soliciting women to sell eggs and releasing information about egg trading" to China's Criminal Code, and he believes that those who violate the laws should be fined and imprisoned.

"Illegal surrogacy is prevalent, and has severely undermined the physical and mental health of women. Many of the women are cheated into selling eggs, and some underground unlicensed agencies tout the egg trading, saying it generates large sums of money without any physical damage for the women. We can only effectively crack down on such practices when we criminalize them," Zhu told China.org.cn on March 4.

According to statistics obtained by Zhu, 10 to 15 percent of Chinese couples have difficulty having children, therefore he also suggests "legalizing surrogacy with strict limits and regulations."