Australian couples could be banned from using surrogates in eastern Europe and south-east Asia

A federal government inquiry into surrogacy could see Australian couples banned from accessing some surrogates overseas in a bid to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable women.

Countries in south-east Asia and eastern Europe could be among the territories banned, reported News Corp.

Compulsory interviews with surrogacy candidates could be conducted by Australian government officials to ensure surrogates have given consent and received appropriate compensation.

A committee into surrogacy is expected to hand down its findings to the government in the first week of May.

“There’s serious concerns with developing countries and eastern European countries like Ukraine, India, Thailand, Burma, Bangladesh, the Philippines, southeast Asia, Nepal, Russia,” committee chairman George Christensen told News Corp.

“There’s got to be a greater onus of proof that a mother has consented.”