No, surrogacy is prohibited under Austria’s Fortpflanzungsmedizingesetz (Reproductive Medicine Act, 1992, amended 2023), criminalizing both commercial and altruistic arrangements. The Bundesministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz enforces strict penalties, including fines up to €100,000 and imprisonment for up to 1 year for participants. Foreign surrogacy contracts are unenforceable, and intended parents face legal hurdles in securing parental rights for children born abroad.
Key Regulations for Surrogacy in Austria
- Absolute ban: § 3(1) of the Fortpflanzungsmedizingesetz explicitly prohibits surrogacy, classifying it as a criminal offense under § 168 StGB (human trafficking for reproductive purposes).
- No exceptions: Altruistic surrogacy is treated identically to commercial arrangements; no legal pathways exist for gestational carriers or intended parents.
- Parental rights: Austrian courts refuse to recognize foreign surrogacy decrees. Children born via surrogacy abroad must undergo adoption proceedings, requiring genetic ties to at least one parent and court approval under § 191 StGB.
The 2023 amendment reinforced these prohibitions, aligning with the Europäische Menschenrechtskonvention (EMRK) jurisprudence, which prioritizes child welfare over contractual arrangements. The Oberster Gerichtshof (Supreme Court) has consistently upheld these restrictions, citing ethical concerns over exploitation and commodification of reproduction.