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In Canada, payment for eggs, sperm, in vitro embryos, and surrogacy is prohibited under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004. Offering or advertising such payments and brokering deals for eggs, sperm, embryos, and surrogacy are also prohibited. Punishment for breaking the law includes a fine of up to 500,000 Canadian dollars, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.
Despite the clear legal prohibitions and the serious legal penalties, the business of buying and selling reproductive tissues and services in Canada is robust, with thousands of dollars changing hands per transaction and no arrests being made. For example, it is reported that the price for eggs ranges from 3,000 to 7,000 Canadian dollars, while the total bill for contract pregnancy can be as much as 100,000 Canadian dollars.
But this may soon change. Finally, eight years after the law came into effect, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has launched an investigation into the services provided by Canadian Fertility Consultants, a company that offers services to infertile couples. No specific details have been released, but some suspect this may...
Despite the clear legal prohibitions and the serious legal penalties, the business of buying and selling reproductive tissues and services in Canada is robust, with thousands of dollars changing hands per transaction and no arrests being made. For example, it is reported that the price for eggs ranges from 3,000 to 7,000 Canadian dollars, while the total bill for contract pregnancy can be as much as 100,000 Canadian dollars.
But this may soon change. Finally, eight years after the law came into effect, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has launched an investigation into the services provided by Canadian Fertility Consultants, a company that offers services to infertile couples. No specific details have been released, but some suspect this may...