Animal transport; application for approval as a transport operator

Transport companies that transport vertebrate animals in connection with a commercial activity require a license depending on the duration of the transport.

A distinction is made between two approvals:

• Approval for transports with a duration of up to 8 hours (type 1)
• Approval for transports with a duration of more than 8 hours (long transport: type 2)

For type 1 approval, you must meet certain requirements with regard to your location/company headquarters, qualified personnel and handling that complies with animal welfare legislation.

For a type 2 license, you must meet some additional requirements. You can find detailed information on the two approvals in the "Requirements" section.

Approvals are granted for a maximum period of five years.

Transportation includes the entire transport process from the place of dispatch to the place of destination, including unloading, storage and loading at intermediate stations.

If there are any changes to the information or documents that you have provided to your veterinary office as part of the approval process, please inform your veterinary office no later than 15 working days after the change.

Requirements that you must fulfill in order to obtain a type 1 permit (transport duration up to 8 hours):

• They are domiciled in Germany or, if they are domiciled in a third country, have a representative in Germany.
• You have demonstrated that you have sufficient and suitable personnel as well as sufficient and appropriate equipment and procedures.
• You or your representatives are not known to have committed serious infringements of Community and/or national animal welfare legislation in the last three years. If, in the opinion of the veterinary office responsible for you, you have sufficiently demonstrated that you have taken all necessary measures to avoid further infringements, an authorization may still be granted.

Requirements that you must fulfill in order to obtain a type 2 permit (transport duration longer than 8 hours):

• They meet all the requirements for type 1 approval.
• You have submitted valid certificates of competence for all drivers and attendants used for long journeys.
• You have submitted valid certificates of approval for all means of road transport to be used for long journeys.
• You have submitted details of your procedures for recording the movements and tracking of your road vehicles.
• You have submitted details of your procedures for keeping in constant contact with your drivers.
• They have submitted emergency plans that come into effect in urgent cases.

You must apply for a license before you start working. You may only start working once you have received the license.

The following certificates and declarations are required for type 1 approval:

• Proof of sufficient and suitable personnel
• Proof of sufficient and appropriate equipment
• Declaration that you or your representatives have not committed any serious infringements of Community and/or national animal welfare legislation in the last three years
• Declaration that you or your representatives have not applied for approval from any other competent authority in Germany or a Member State

The following certificates are also required for type 2 approval:

• Certificates of competence for all drivers and attendants used for long journeys
• Valid certificates of approval for all means of road transport used for long journeys
• Proof that you can track and record the movements of your road vehicles and maintain constant contact with drivers
• Emergency plans that come into effect in urgent cases

Please ask your local veterinary office whether you need to submit further documents.

• Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97

  Version from 5.1.2005

• Ordinance on the protection of animals during transport (Animal Welfare Transport Ordinance - TierSchTrV)
• Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG)

After submitting your application and providing all the necessary documents, your application will be checked and documented by the competent veterinary office. If the requirements are met, approval will be granted.

If you are a farmer, you do not need a permit to transport animals in your own agricultural vehicles or means of transport in cases where, for geographical reasons, transport is required as part of the seasonal migration of certain animal species (e.g. upbringing or downbringing of livestock), or to transport your own animals in your own means of transport over a distance of less than 50 km from your farm.

You also do not need approval

• for the transportation of vertebrate animals that is not connected with a commercial activity, and
• the transportation of animals directly to or from a veterinary practice or veterinary clinic under the guidance of a veterinarian.

• Transportation of animals abroad; registration
• Animal transport; application for approval of means of road transport