Animal welfare permit; application

A permit under animal protection law must be applied for at the district administrative authority (Landratsamt) responsible for the applicant.

A permit under animal protection law in accordance with § 11 Animal Protection Act is required in particular in the following cases:

• Breeding and keeping of vertebrates for experimental purposes and comparable activities,
• Animal husbandry in an animal shelter or similar facilities,
• Zoos or other facilities for the exhibition of animals,
• Moving or importing vertebrate animals (except livestock) into the country for the purpose of delivery for a fee or other consideration or brokering such animals
• protection dog training for third parties,
• commercial training of dogs for third parties or commercial guidance of the training of dogs by the animal owner
• Conducting animal exchanges,
• commercial animal breeding and animal husbandry (exception: agricultural livestock),
• commercial animal trade,
• commercial operation of a riding and driving operation,
• commercial display of animals,
• commercial pest control of vertebrates.

The issuance of the animal welfare permit is a prerequisite for operating a facility requiring a permit or to begin with an activity requiring a permit. It therefore has a preventive character for the protection of the animals concerned.

Depending on the case, further permits may be required, such as approval as an animal transporter or as a livestock dealer, building permit(s), approval of animal experiments (issued by the governments of Upper Bavaria and Lower Franconia), permits under species protection law; it is therefore advisable to enquire at the competent district administrative authority.

• Required expertise for the respective activity
• Suitable facilities and premises
• Personal reliability
• Perhaps use of suitable substances

The exact requirements depend on the individual case.

• Proof of prerequisites through declarations, certificates of previous activities or professional qualifications
• Certificates of expertise
• Certificate of good conduct
  as proof of reliability