Hungary: The Regulation of Assisted Reproductive Technologies and the Principle of the Best Interests of the Child

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have fundamentally reshaped the understanding of family and reproduction. As certain ART continue to challenge regionspecific bioethical norms, they have given rise to distinctive legislative approaches globally. Hungary has faced emerging infertility treatments since the 1970s. Through ongoing professional and public debate, the country continues to refine legal responses to the most ethically controversial forms of ART. A careful analysis of Hungary’s constitutional framework, statutory provisions governing healthcare, reproductive medicine, family law, legal parenthood and child protection reveals a more pronatalist state approach to ART utilisation, which remains embedded in traditional family values. Fundamental bioethical questions, particularly concerning the constitutional and legal status of embryo protection, remain in the background of Hungarian law. These tensions highlight the complexity of balancing reproductive innovation with deeply rooted cultural and moral commitments.