In a statement released this week, the Council confirmed it has accepted “the petition to find a surrogate”, which is reportedly the only request that has hitherto been submitted to the Council.
The resolution to give it the green light was “unanimously pronounced”, the CNPMA confirmed.
This followed news reported by weekly newspaper Expresso’s site, which cited a source close to the couple who filed the application.
In comments to the newspaper the woman petitioner of the first accepted request of its kind in Portugal, identified only as Isabel, said: “I keep shaking, I’m bursting in a whirl of emotions I cannot even describe.”
Expresso claims the surrogate will be Isabel’s 50-year-old mother, who reportedly told the publication: “It’s an act of love. I want to give my daughter the opportunity to have children. If I can, why shouldn’t I give her this opportunity?”
Proceedings will now be passed on to the Doctors Register for a non-binding appreciation, and will be devolved to the CNPMA in a maximum of 60 days.
Then the CNPMA will have a further 60 days to also reconsider.
On 31 July this year, a new law was published that establishes the terms and conditions in which women with a proven clinical condition that prevents them from falling pregnant can resort to surrogacy.
Under the new law, psychological support must be given to the surrogate after birth and this must be included in the contract celebrated between parents and surrogates.
Candidates for a substitute must apply for prior authorisation, submitted to the CNPMA through a form available on their website, the guidelines of which were drawn up by the Council and which must be jointly signed by the couple and the surrogate.