The Kilshaws lost their battle to adopt twins

The legislation is designed to make it illegal to adopt from abroad without going through the same rigorous checks as would apply if adopting in England and Wales.

Failure to comply could mean three months in jail of a �5,000 fine.

Health minister John Hutton said: "We have to be satisfied that people who bring children into this country for the purposes of adoption have been properly vetted and this law will hopefully ensure that there are safeguards for these children."

Legal loopholes

But adoption agencies say that the new laws have shortcomings because Britain recognises adoption procedures in America and most other European countries.

So couples adopting there will still be exempt from these stringent checks.

The government is considering further legislation to tackle this.

The Kilshaws arranged to adopt the twins over the internet but have lost their fight to keep them.

The couple paid �8,200 for the babies to an internet adoption agency.

But Flintshire social services placed the twins in emergency foster care in January.

And earlier this month, a High Court judge ruled that the girls should return to the US.

The twin girls are now living there with foster parents until their future is decided.