The bill was signed into law by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, on November 4, before leaving for his visit to China, sources told ANSA.
On October 16, the Senate gave final approval to the bill making surrogacy a universal crime, even if it is carried out abroad by Italian citizens.
It carries a prison term of between three months and two years, and a fine of up to one million euros.
Opposition lawmakers, who voted against the measure, have slammed it as “useless”, “unconstitutional” and “against children and same-sex couples”.
In Italy, surrogacy has been illegal since 2004.
Surrogacy became a hot topic under the right-ring government of Giorgia Meloni, whose Brothers of Italy party presented the legislation.
It will allow the prosecution of Italians who use surrogate mothers in countries like Spain, Canada and the US where it is legal, thus making it a ‘universal crime’.
Meloni has said she thinks surrogacy is “inhuman” and takes advantage of vulnerable women whose babies are stripped away from them “in a brutal trade”.
Commercial surrogacy is also legal in Georgia and Greece.
Additionally, altruistic surrogacy is allowed in Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Guatemala, the UK and Australia.
ANSA
