Yes, keeping roadkill in Hungary is generally permitted under specific conditions, primarily governed by the 1996 Act on Nature Conservation and the 2012 Decree on Protected Species. The Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture (MAGyAR) oversees enforcement, while local environmental authorities (KÖVET) issue permits for non-protected species. Recent 2026 amendments tightened record-keeping requirements for hunters and road maintenance crews to curb illegal trade.
Key Regulations for Keeping Roadkill in Hungary
- Species Protection: Only non-protected species (e.g., wild boar, red fox) may be kept without permits. Protected species (e.g., deer, lynx) require prior approval from the National Inspectorate for Environment, Nature and Water (KÖVIZIG) under Act LIII of 1996.
- Notification Obligations: Found carcasses must be reported to local KÖVET offices within 24 hours via the National Roadkill Reporting System (ÚTÁLLÓ). Failure to report risks fines up to 500,000 HUF (≈€1,250).
- Disposal Restrictions: Carcasses of unknown origin or those suspected of disease (e.g., African swine fever) must be incinerated by licensed facilities. Municipal waste management contracts (e.g., Fővárosi Hulladékgazdálkodási Zrt. in Budapest) handle disposal.
Local police (Rendőrség) and game wardens (Vadászati Felügyelőség) conduct random inspections, particularly in high-incidence zones like the Great Hungarian Plain. Non-compliance with species-specific quotas or improper storage (e.g., without refrigeration) may trigger environmental misdemeanor proceedings under the 2012 Waste Management Act.