It is an abortion law that hopefully will stand the test of time for many years to come, says Norway's Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre (Ap).
The newly adopted abortion law also establishes that the same rules will apply to so-called fetal reduction, sometimes referred to as twin abortion, where one or more fetuses are removed, and that healthcare personnel have a statutory right not to perform abortions. It will also become voluntary to meet an abortion board in late abortions, i.e. from week 18 to 22 of pregnancy.
Norway's abortion legislation was last changed in 1978.
In Sweden, too, pregnant women have the right to choose to have an abortion up to the 18th week of pregnancy.
