Policymakers drop legal ban on surrogacy

A proposed legal ban on the use of surrogate mothers has been scrapped after lawmakers raised objections over the effectiveness of such a move, it was announced on Sunday.

Officials had initially included the ban in a draft amendment to the nation's Law on Population and Family Planning. Yet after a routine review, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the top legislature, removed the provision before approving the final draft on Sunday.

Other amendments in the approved draft include allowing couples to have two children and extending maternity leave for mothers who abide by the law. The revised law comes into effect on Friday.