Apply for a licence to breed, keep and trade animals
Service description
You require a licence if you wish to carry out the following activities with animals on a commercial basis:
- Breeding or keeping of vertebrates other than farm animals and wild game
- Trade in vertebrates
- maintain a riding or driving operation
- Exhibiting animals or making them available for this purpose
- Control of vertebrates as pests
- They train dogs for third parties, such as companion dogs or assistance dogs, maintain facilities for this purpose or instruct the training of dogs by the animal owner, for example through dog schools
Registration of a business is not a prerequisite.
A business is generally considered to be commercial if the activity is carried out independently, systematically, continuously and with the intention of making a profit.
A permit is also required if you wish to carry out the following activities:- They carry out the breeding or keeping, including for sale to third parties, or use of vertebrates or cephalopods which themselves or whose organs or tissues are intended to be used for scientific purposes, for example animal experiments.
- They carry out the breeding or keeping of vertebrates whose organs or tissues are intended for non-scientific purposes, for example for the creation of cell cultures for diagnostic purposes.
- You keep animals in an animal shelter or similar facility, such as a rescue centre.
- They keep and exhibit animals in a zoological garden or other institution or make them available for the latter.
- They bring or import vertebrate animals - with the exception of farm animals - into Germany for the purpose of selling them in return for payment or consideration, or broker these animals in return for payment or consideration, for example through foreign dog welfare organisations.
- They train guard dogs or maintain facilities for this purpose.
- They organise animal exchanges for the purpose of the exchange or sale of animals by third parties.
Procedure
- Send the application and all required documents to the responsible office
- The competent body will check whether you fulfil the requirements
- You will be notified if any documents are missing and can submit them at a later date
- An appointment will then be arranged with you to compare the information in the application and the requirements on site.
- If you fulfil all the conditions, you will be granted permission.
Who should I contact?
Responsibility lies with the veterinary offices of the administrative districts and independent cities.
Prerequisites
The necessary expertise is generally assumed if you have completed recognised training or further training that qualifies you to handle the relevant animal species. However, expertise can also be demonstrated by many years of experience in handling these animals, for example through successful husbandry.
The authority assumes that you are reliable if you are known to the authority and there are no indications of behaviour that is questionable in terms of animal welfare.
Which documents are required?
Application for a licence in accordance with Section 11 of the Animal Welfare Act
- Proof of expertise
- Proof of reliability (certificate of good conduct)
- Documents on animal husbandry
- Job description
- Business registration, if applicable
You must also provide the following information in the application:
- Your planned activity
- the location of your activity (business address)
- Owner of the business or organisation (name, address, date and place of birth)
- Proof of the holder's reliability
- Details of the person responsible for the activity, if this is someone other than the holder (name, address, date and place of birth)
- Proof of the expertise and reliability of the person responsible
- the species and the respective numbers of animals you want to keep
- Plan of the rooms and facilities, floor plan (e.g. location sketch, description of the housing facilities, cages, terrariums, lighting)
What fees are incurred?
The issuing of an animal welfare licence is subject to a fee. The costs are based on the General Fee Schedule of the State of Saxony-Anhalt and the Administrative Costs Act of the State of Saxony-Anhalt.
The costs are usually
- 25 to 600 Euro
- Fee according to time spent
- Examination of the spatial requirements for the breeding and keeping of animals: Fee according to time spent
- Prohibition of the exercise of an activity: 35 to 610 euros
Processing time
Processing time: up to 4 months, extension of 2 months possible
Legal basis
Legal remedy
You can take legal action against the decision on your application using the following legal means:
- Objection, granting with conditions or refusal of a licence
- Compulsory action if the licence is not granted
- Action for annulment, against conditions in the licence
What else should I know?
Further permits may be required, such as authorisation as an animal transporter or livestock dealer, building permits, authorisation for animal testing or species protection permits. Please enquire about the exact requirements with the competent authority in good time before the intended start of the activity. The licence may be granted subject to time limits, conditions and requirements, insofar as this is necessary for the protection of the animals.
Work may only commence once a valid licence has been obtained.
Short text
- Authorisation to breed, keep and trade in animals Issue
- A licence is required for certain activities involving animals
- these activities may include the breeding, keeping and trading of vertebrate animals
- the licence is not required for the keeping and breeding of farm animals or wild game
- The licence is issued by the competent authority upon application
- Responsible: competent authorities, usually: veterinary offices
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