The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to submit proposed amendments to the Assisted Reproduction Act (人工生殖法), which would allow same-sex couples and single women access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), to the Executive Yuan for review before the end of the year, officials said yesterday.
A preview of the draft bill, which also includes regulations governing surrogacy and IVF providers, was opened to public feedback from May 14 to July 13, and received 600 responses, Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) said at a meeting of the legislature’s Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee to discuss the bill.
The responses were mainly concerned with questions about the welfare of children born via IVF and equal rights protection for LGBTQ+ couples during assessment for IVF treatment, Chiu said.
Photo: CNA
They also expressed concern over surrogate children’s legal status and rights, legal classification of surrogacy agencies and the policy’s potential side effects, including possible exploitation of surrogate mothers and human trafficking, he said.
The amendments aim to address concerns about implementing equality rules in IVF eligibility assessment process to protect single women and lesbian couples, he said.
Chiu told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting that the ministry is working on regulations governing surrogate mothers, but it is proceeding with caution because of the fraught nature of the issue, he said.
The ministry has convened six meetings with experts in medicine, women’s rights, children’s rights, ethics, and law to discuss surrogate motherhood, he said.
The ministry expects the Health Promotion Administration to submit a drat bill in November, Chiu said.
A NT$39 receipt for two bottles of tea at a FamilyMart was among the NT$10 million (US $312,969) special prize winners in the January-February uniform invoice lottery. FamilyMart said that two NT$10 million-winning receipts were issued at its stores, as well as two NT$2 million grand prizes and three NT$200,000 first prizes. The two NT$10 million receipts were issued at stores in Pingtung County and Yilan County’s Dongshan Township (冬山). One winner spent just NT$39 on two bottles of tea, while another spent NT$80 on water, tea and coffee, the company said. Meanwhile, 7-Eleven reported three NT$10 million winners — in New Taipei
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
Taiwan is concerned that China could exploit the US’ war in the Middle East, with state media citing examples from the conflict to cast doubt on the efficiency of US weapons Taiwan would use to repel an invasion. Taiwanese officials said the resumption of Beijing’s large-scale air force incursions near Taiwan after an unusual decline show that China wants to take advantage of the redeployment of US forces from East Asia to the Middle East. “This is a moment for China to exercise influence,” a senior Taiwanese security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “What China is trying to create is a
RSS