Entry, transit, export and intra-Community movements in accordance with animal health and foodstuffs legislation; application for a permit

You require a permit for the entry, transit and, in individual cases, for the export and intra-Community movements of animals and animal products as well as goods that may be carriers of infectious agents.

This does not apply to animals and goods originating in a third country that are accompanied by a certificate and for which there is no authorization requirement.

A permit may not be issued if there is a risk of spreading animal diseases.

Products and products that can be confused with foodstuffs that do not comply with the laws applicable in Germany, except

• Foodstuffs intended exclusively for scientific purposes, trade fairs, exhibitions or similar events,
• Food samples and samples in small quantities,

may not be brought into the country. Their transit requires customs supervision.

none

No deadlines need to be observed for the application itself. When handling the trade, e.g. an animal transport, official notification obligations of the partner veterinary authorities in other EU Member States may arise, about which the locally competent veterinary office will provide information.

The fees depend on the individual case and vary greatly. If necessary, ask the responsible authority.

• Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council on animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health ("Animal Health Law")

  Version dated February 27, 2025

• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to animal health requirements for movements of terrestrial animals and hatching eggs within the Union

  Version dated January 09, 2025

• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 of January 30, 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to rules for the entry into the Union of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin and their subsequent movement and handling

  Version dated February 07, 2023

• Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, animal health and welfare rules, plant health and plant protection products

  Version dated January 05, 2025

• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/403 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulations (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards models of veterinary certificates, models of official certificates and models of veterinary/official certificates for the entry into the Union of consignments of certain categories of terrestrial animals and their germinal products and for their movements between Member States, as regards the official certification activities related to such certificates and repealing Decision 2010/470/EU

  Version dated September 03, 2024

• § Section 1 of the Ordinance on the Protection of Animals in the Internal Market (BmTierSSchV)
• § Section 9 of the Ordinance on the Protection of Animals in the Internal Market (BmTierSSchV)
• § Section 53 of the German Food and Feed Code (LFGB)

• FAQs about TRACES NT

The first point of contact is always the local competent veterinary office. All entries from third countries must take place via a veterinary border inspection post on first contact with an EU country.

The application can be made informally in writing, by fax or e-mail. If certificates must be enclosed in accordance with specified models, the local veterinary office can provide information on this.

All declarations for consignments of animal origin from third countries must be made in TRACES NT. TRACES NT is a web application designed to achieve better control and traceability of animal transports and transports of animal products. TRACES NT is based on personalized access. This means that every transport employee needs a user account (EU login) in TRACES NT if they want to work in TRACES NT and create common health entry documents (GGEDs). If not already available, a corresponding access to the system must be created.

Intra-Community transfers refer to transfers between the Member States of the European Union.

The movement of animals and goods from third countries is referred to as entry. Third countries are countries that do not belong to the European Union.

Transit refers to incoming consignments that are subsequently re-exported. This means that they come from a third country and also return to a third country.

Before each movement, entry or transit, it should be clarified exactly which requirements must be met in order to prevent the animals or goods from being rejected at the border inspection post.

• Veterinary certificate for animals; application