Apply for approval as a transport company

If you want to transport animals, you need a license as a transport company from the responsible veterinary office before starting your work.

If you want to transport animals, you need a license as a transport company from the competent veterinary office before starting your work.

A distinction can be made between two licenses:

An approval for transports with a duration of up to 8 hours (type 1) and an approval for transports with a duration of more than 8 hours (long transport: type 2).

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

For a type 2 approval, you must meet some additional requirements.

Transportation includes the entire transport process from the place of dispatch to the place of destination, including unloading, stabling 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, please inform your veterinary office no later than 15 working days after the change.

If you are a farmer, you do not require approval to transport your own animals in your own means of transport over a distance of less than 50 km from your farm.

The veterinary and food inspection office of your district or city.

• Application for approval as a transport company
• The following proofs and declarations are required for a type 1 license:
  • 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 proofs are also required for a type 2 license
  • Certificates of competence for all drivers and attendants used for long journeys
  • Valid certificates of approval for all road transport equipment used for long journeys
  • Proof that you can track and record the movements of your road vehicles and maintain constant contact with the drivers
  • Emergency plans that come into effect in urgent cases

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

Forms available: Yes

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: No

• Requirements that you must fulfill in order to obtain a type 1 permit (transport duration up to 8 hours):
  • You are based in Germany or have a representative in Germany.
  • You have proven that you have sufficient and suitable personnel as well as sufficient and suitable 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 your veterinary office is of the opinion that you have sufficiently demonstrated that you have taken all necessary measures to avoid further infringements, an approval may still be granted.

• Requirements that you must fulfill in order to obtain a type 2 approval (transport duration longer than 8 hours):
  • You fulfill all the requirements for a 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 and tracking your road vehicles.
  • You have submitted details of your procedures for keeping in constant contact with your drivers.
  • You have submitted contingency plans to be used in urgent cases

Cost ordinance for official acts of the veterinary administration

• Objection
• Action before the administrative court

Once you have submitted the required documents, they will be reviewed by the veterinary office and your details documented. You will then receive your license if you meet the requirements.

There is no deadline.

The processing time depends on the workload of the relevant veterinary office.

The costs are based on fee item 1.6.25 of the currently valid Veterinary Administration Costs Ordinance.

• Animal transportation is subject to requirements to ensure animal welfare during transportation. According to Art. 3 of Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005, no person may carry out or arrange for the transportation of animals if this could cause injury or unnecessary suffering to the animals.
• In addition, the following conditions must be met:
• Prior to transportation, all necessary precautions have been taken to keep the duration of transportation as short as possible and to take account of the animals' needs during transportation.
• The animals are fit for transportation.
• The means of transport are designed, constructed, maintained and used in such a way that the animals are spared injury and suffering and their safety is guaranteed.
• Loading and unloading equipment is designed, constructed, maintained and used in such a way as to avoid injury and suffering to the animals and to ensure their safety.
• The persons handling the animals are adequately trained or qualified to do so and do not use force or other methods in the performance of their duties that could unnecessarily frighten the animals or cause them unnecessary injury or suffering.
• Transportation to the destination is carried out without delay and the welfare of the animals is regularly checked and maintained in an appropriate manner.
• The animals have sufficient floor space and standing height according to their size and the planned transportation.
• The animals are provided with water and feed of appropriate quality and quantity for their species and size at appropriate intervals and are allowed to rest.