The justice ministry has set up a foundation for enhancing animal welfare and protection in Hungary. The foundation aims to promote animal welfare and responsible animal husbandry, and to strengthen cooperation with relevant NGOs, the justice minister told a press conference on Thursday, introducing the Animal Protection Our Joint Cause Foundation. Judit Varga noted that Hungary recently passed one of Europe’s most rigorous animal protection laws in response to a survey in which 260,000 contributed their views. The law has broadened the definition of animal torture, she said. The foundation is the first of its kind in Hungary aiming to involve everyone with long-standing experience in animal welfare, including civil groups, experts, the authorities and local councils, Varga said. The government has donated 250 million forints (EUR 667,000) to the foundation, the minister noted.