Animal breeding (excluding farm animals), permit

You need a permit if you wish to engage in the following commercial activities involving animals:

• Breeding or keeping vertebrates other than farm animals and game kept in enclosures
• Trade in Vertebrates
• operate a horseback riding or carriage riding business
• Displaying animals or making them available for display
• Controlling Vertebrates as Pests
• They train dogs for third parties—such as service dogs or assistance dogs—maintain facilities for this purpose, or supervise the training of dogs by their owners, for example through dog training schools

Registering a business is not a requirement. An activity is generally considered to be conducted on a commercial

basis if it is carried out independently, systematically, on an ongoing basis, and with the intent to make a profit.

A permit is also required if you wish to engage in the following activities:

• They engage in the breeding or keeping—including for the purpose of transfer to third parties—or use of vertebrates or cephalopods that are themselves, or whose organs or tissues are intended to be used, for scientific purposes, such as animal testing.
• They engage in the breeding or keeping of vertebrates whose organs or tissues are intended for purposes other than scientific research, such as the establishment of cell cultures for diagnostic purposes.
• You care for animals at an animal shelter or a similar facility, such as a rescue center.
• They keep and display animals in a zoo or other facility, or make them available to such facilities.
• You import vertebrates—other than farm animals—into the country for the purpose of selling them for a fee or other consideration, or you act as an intermediary in the sale of these animals for a fee or other consideration, such as through the Foreign Dog Protection Association.
• They train guard dogs or operate facilities for this purpose.
• They organize animal fairs for the purpose of exchanging or selling animals by third parties.

You need a permit for the commercial handling of animals if you wish to engage in the following activities on a commercial basis:

• Breeding, keeping, or trading in vertebrates other than farm animals
• Running a Riding and Driving Center
• Animal Exhibitions
• Controlling Vertebrates as Pests
• Importing vertebrates that are not farm animals into Germany for sale (transfer for a fee)
• Train dogs for third parties or guide pet owners in training their dogs

This permission is also required if you

• Keeping animals in an animal shelter or a similar facility
• Keeping and displaying animals in a zoo or other facility
• Training dogs for third parties, maintaining facilities for this purpose, or providing guidance to pet owners on how to train their dogs
• Bringing vertebrates into the country or importing them for the purpose of selling them for a fee or other consideration, or acting as an intermediary in the sale of such animals for a fee or other consideration
• Organize animal fairs for the purpose of exchanging or selling animals by third parties

Note: You do not need a permit to keep farm animals.

The license may be granted to an individual (sole proprietorship) or a corporation. In the case of a partnership, each personally liable partner receives a separate license.