Act C of 2012 on the Criminal Code (as in force on 1 April 2022) This document has been produced for informational purposes only. Animal cruelty Section 244 (1) A person who a) abuses or treats a vertebrate animal, without justification, in a manner capable of causing the death or any permanent damage to the health of the animal, b) chases away, leaves or abandons a vertebrate animal or dangerous animal is guilty of a misdemeanour and shall be punished by imprisonment for up to two years. (2) The punishment shall be imprisonment for up to three years for committing a felony if the criminal offence of animal cruelty is committed a) causing extreme suffering to the animal, b) causing the death or any permanent damage to the health of more than one animal, c) in front of a large audience, d) against an animal affected by disqualification from keeping a pet animal or disqualification from keeping the animal species concerned as set out in the Act on the protection and welfare of animals, during the period of the disqualification, or e) within two years after being convicted of animal cruelty or organising illegal animal fights. (3) The punishment shall be imprisonment for one to five years if the criminal offence of animal cruelty is committed a) using poison or placing bait suitable for killing an animal and causing the death of more than one animal, or b) by a special recidivist. (4) A person who commits the criminal offence specified in paragraph (1) a) for financial gain related to reproduction, for more than ten pet animals, failing to employ the diligence of a prudent farmer. (5) A person who commits preparation for the criminal offence specified in paragraph (3) a) is guilty of a misdemeanour and shall be punished by imprisonment for up to two years. (6) For the purposes of paragraph (3) b), concerning special recidivism, damaging natural values if committed causing the death of an animal, animal cruelty and organising illegal animal fights shall be considered similar criminal offences. Game poaching Section 245 A person who a) engages in any activity aimed at killing or catching a wild animal without authorisation to hunt in a hunting area or permission to hunt in the hunting area of another person, b) kills or catches a specimen of a wild animal species during the period of a hunting moratorium, as defined in a separate law, covering all specimens of the given species, c) engages in any activity aimed at killing or catching a wild animal or a protected or specially protected vertebrate animal using prohibited means or methods of hunting or in a no-hunting area, as defined in a separate law is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for up to three years. 79 Contact: eu-forditas@im.gov.hu