The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) has plans to work with many national departments to crack down surrogacy, according to an announcement made on a teleconference, on April 8, where the head of a special action team, Jin Xiaotao, an NHFPC vice-minister said that surrogacy has disrupted China’s human assisted reproductive services, harmed people’s health, and affected the family planning policy.

Jin went on to explain that, “The special action taken by the national departments is an important way to safeguard people’s health and social order.”

The special group will be on the lookout for medical offices, social organizations, the Internet, TV, broadcasting, magazines and newspapers who provide the related services. It will also pay closer attention to the sale of medical instruments and drugs, and the application of reproductive technology services, starting this April.

The program will run through December under the guidance of the NHFPC, in line with the Party’s Publicity Dept, its Comprehensive Management Office, the Lead Group for Cyberspace Affairs, Industry and Information Technology Ministry, Public Security Ministry, Civil Affairs Ministry, Industry and Commerce Administration, Food and Drug Administration, Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration, PLA General Logistics Dept Health Dept, and the Armed Police Force Logistics Dept Health Dept.

The NHFPC has opened a hotline, at 010-12356, to handle complaints or tip-offs.