Yes, keeping roadkill in Sweden is generally permitted under strict wildlife conservation and traffic safety regulations. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket) and local county boards (länsstyrelser) oversee compliance, with recent 2026 amendments tightening species-specific restrictions. Permits may be required for protected or endangered species, and reporting dead animals to authorities is mandatory to prevent zoonotic disease spread.
Key Regulations for Keeping Roadkill in Sweden
- Species Protection: Protected species (e.g., lynx, wolf, or certain birds) under the Species Protection Ordinance (2007:845) cannot be kept without special permits from the county board. Violations risk fines up to SEK 100,000.
- Reporting Obligations: Dead animals must be reported to the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) or local police within 24 hours if found on public roads, per Traffic Safety Act (2001:559).
- Food Chain Use: Roadkill may be used for human consumption (e.g., game) if processed in approved facilities under EU Regulation 853/2004, but wild boar requires mandatory trichinella testing.
Local municipalities may impose additional restrictions, particularly in urban areas. Always verify species status via the ArtDatabanken database before retention. Non-compliance with conservation or hygiene standards may result in administrative penalties or criminal liability under environmental law.