Title of the law: Federal Act enacting provisions on medically assisted reproduction (Reproductive Medicine Act – RMA), Federal Law Gazette No. 275/1992, last amended by Federal Law Gazette I No. 37/2018 (see RIS - Fortpflanzungsmedizingesetz - Bundesrecht konsolidiert, version of 25 November 2024 (bka. gv.at)

 Date of adoption: 14 May 1992 entry into force 1 July 1992, with various adaptions until 2018

 Published: in Federal Gazette “Bundesgesetzblatt” BGBl. Nr. 275/1992

 Amendment: Fortpflanzungsmedizinrechts-Änderungsgesetz 2015

 Date of Adoption: 23 February 2015, entry into force: 24 February 2015

 Published in: Federal Gazette “Bundesgesetzblatt” BGBl. I Nr. 35/2015

Revision concerning egg donation, sperm donation and PGD

2. Are there specific criteria for access to MAP?

Medical reasons

          a. Infertility

            i. for a heterosexual couple?                                                     YES

            ii. for women not living in a heterosexual couple?                NO

b. Risk of transmission of a disease (please specify the risk and/or disease)                  

            i. for a heterosexual couple?                                                     YES

            ii. for women not living in heterosexual couple?                   NO

6. Are sperm, oocytes or embryos donation permitted in your country?

a. Sperm                                                                                             Yes

b. Oocytes                                                                                          Yes

c. Embryos                                                                                         No

7. Are there specific compensation arrangements for such donations(s)? No, only allowance for expenses is possible 

8. Are there sepcific criteria for sperm, oocytes and embryos donation? 

a. Sperm                                                                                             Yes

b. Oocytes                                                                                          Yes, age limit

c. Embryos                                                                                         -

9. Are there specific non-medical criteria for selection of gametes/embryo to be used for MAP?

No

10. Are there special measures for the prevention of consanguinity? 

Yes, restrictions on the number of families for donations

11. In a homosexual couple, is a legal relationship possible between a child and the partner of his or her legal parent? -

3. Are MAP procedures covered by the social security system? 

infertility is not seen as a disease therefore the IVF-fund according to the IVF-Fonds-Gesetz was established in 2000 (see RIS - IVF-Fonds-Gesetz - Bundesrecht konsolidiert, Fassung vom 25.11.2024 (bka.gv.at)

4. Are there specific criteria for such coverage? 

Yes

5. Is financial coverage limited to a number of MAP procedures? 

Yes

19. Is there an important current debate in your country on these or related issues? No

20. Delegations are invited to provide information, in this section, on particular cases encountered in their country, and especially their case-law. NA

1. Is access to MAP 

• restricted to heterosexual couples? No
• possible for women not living in a heterosexual couple? Yes

16. Is donation of sperm, oocytes and embryos anonymous?

Rights of Donor-Conceived Children and Legal Guardians in Austria

In Austria, sperm donation is regulated by the Fortpflanzungsmedizingesetz (FMedG). The law provides that records concerning the sperm donor must be treated confidentially, meaning that the donor generally remains anonymous. The sperm donor himself has no right to obtain information about children conceived using his sperm.

However, donor-conceived children and legal guardians are granted rights of access and information in legally regulated cases.

Under §20 para. 2 FMedG, donor-conceived children have the right, upon reaching the age of 14, to:

• inspect the records concerning the donor, and
• obtain information from these records.

➡️ This includes the right to learn the identity of the sperm or egg donor.

This right reflects the growing recognition of a child’s right to know their biological origins.

Rights of Legal Guardians

In exceptional circumstances, legal guardians or the child’s legal representative may also obtain access to information regarding the donor’s identity.

This is only possible:

• when it is necessary for the well-being of the child, and
• in medically justified exceptional cases.

In addition, access to these records requires prior authorization by the competent guardianship court.

Storage of Donor Data

Hospitals in Austria are legally required to store donor data in the donor database for a period of 30 years.

As a result, the right to access this information is also subject to a time limitation. Donor-conceived children therefore cannot exercise their right to information indefinitely.

In Austria, it is not possible to claim child support payments from the sperm donor.

17. Is it possible to obtain information about the biological origin of a child born after gametes or embryo donation? For the child? For the parents? For a court?                                                 

Yes

In particular: identity of the donors for the child, for the parents, for a court? in medically justified exceptional cases, the legal representatives

Yes

Certain health information concerning the donor(s), for the child, for the parents, for a court?

Yes, details in § 20 Law on Medical Assisted Procreation “Fortpflanzungsmedizingesetz”.

Other information No

18. Is it possible to contest maternity and paternity of children born utilising MAP and under which conditions (family law provisions)? -