Italy extends surrogacy ban to couples seeking it abroad

A happy couple admires the progress of pregnancy by a surrogate mother. [iStockPhoto]

Italian lawmakers on Wednesday passed into law a bill to extend the country's ban on surrogacy to couples who seek it abroad, despite warnings the move would damage children's rights.

The bill, adopted by the Senate, makes Italians who seek surrogacy in other countries liable for prosecution on their return home.