India to Tighten Surrogacy Laws

India has been a popular country for foreign couples seeking surrogate mothers. As outlined here the countries relatively loose surrogacy laws have made it very popular with international fertility patients. Indian authorities have been working on draft legislation for several years, and expect it to become law soon. After some recent high profile cases including one in which a Japanese couple did not take their baby home with them after they divorced, the new rules are regarded as overdue. One new stipulation states that couples need to provide documentation that they are legally able to take the resulting baby back to their country. They would also have to appoint a local guardian who will be responsible for the surrogate until the child is handed over to the parents. Indian women can earn more than $2,500 for each pregnancy.