Art and Surrogacy Bill Passed In Rajya Sabha

On December 8, 2021, the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill was passed in Lok Sabha.

Highlights:

The Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill was recently passed in the Lok Sabha which intends to regulate ART but then referred the bill to a standing committee.

ART covers all methods that are used to get pregnant. The procedures shall incorporate handling oocytes (immature eggs) or sperms outside the body.

It shall also involve giving the embryo into the womans body.

The ART Services shall cover the following: Donation of sperm or oocytes, In Vitro Fertilisation – fertilizing an egg and a sperm in the lab, Gestational Surrogacy – child carried by biological mother or surrogate mother.

The bill states that every ART bank or clinic should be listed under the National Registry of Banks and Clinics of India. The bill will authorize the National Registry.

The registry will act as a Database holding details of the hospitals and banks providing ART services.