GUANGZHOU, Jan. 19 -- Authorities in south China's Guangdong Province announced a crackdown on surrogacy on Monday.

The authorities said any instance of surrogacy would be severely punished with medical professionals involved in illegal surrogacy suspended from practice or struck off.

Those publishing information on surrogacy or egg trading will also be punished. Websites of surrogacy and egg trading would be closed.

Illegal assistance to human reproduction severely threatens people's health and raises serious ethical issues, according to a statement by organizers of the campaign.