Application for approval as a transport company in accordance with the EU Animal Welfare Transport Regulation
If you want to transport animals, you need a licence as a transport company from the responsible veterinary office before starting your activity.
Two approvals can be distinguished:
- 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 journey: type 2).
For Type 1 approval, you must meet certain requirements regarding your location/company headquarters, qualified personnel and handling in accordance with animal welfare law.
For Type 2 approval, you must meet some additional requirements. The detailed information can be found in the section "Prerequisites".
Transport includes the entire transport operation from the place of dispatch to the place of destination, including unloading, placing and loading at intermediate stations.
If there are any changes to the information or documents that you have communicated to your veterinary office as part of the authorisation, please inform your veterinary office no later than 15 working days after the change.
If you are a farmer, you do not need a licence to transport your own animals in your own means of transport over a distance of less than 50 km from your holding.
Process flow
After you have submitted the documents and documents, they will be viewed at the veterinary office and your details documented. You will then receive your admission.
Competent authority
In Lower Saxony, responsibility lies with the veterinary offices of the districts, the Hanover region and the independent cities as well as with the Zweckverband Veterinäramt Jade-Weser.
Requirements
Requirements that you must meet in order to obtain Type 1 approval (transport time up to 8 hours):
- You are resident in Germany or have a representative in Germany.
- You have demonstrated that you have sufficient and appropriate staff, equipment and procedures.
- You or your representatives are not known to have committed serious breaches of Community and/or national animal welfare law in the last three years. If your veterinary office considers that you have sufficiently demonstrated that you have taken all necessary measures to avoid further infringements, authorisation may still be granted if necessary.
Requirements that you must meet in order to obtain type 2 approval (transport time 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 intended 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 permanent contact with your drivers.
- They have submitted contingency plans that come into effect in urgent cases.
Which documents are required?
- Application for authorisation as a transport company (ask for it at your veterinary office or look for a form on the homepage of the veterinary office)
- The following evidence and declarations are required for Type 1 approval:
- Proof of sufficient and suitable personnel
- Proof of sufficient and adequate equipment
- Declaration that you or your representatives have not committed any serious breaches of Community and/or national animal welfare law in the last three years
- Declaration that you or your representatives have not applied for authorisation with any other competent authority in Germany or any Member State
- The following additional evidence is required for Type 2 approval:
- Qualifications for all drivers and attendants engaged in 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
- Contingency plans that come into play in urgent cases
- Please ask your local veterinary office whether you need to submit further documents.
What are the fees?
Fee: 35,00 - 250,00 EURPayment in advance: No
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
You must submit the application for authorisation before you start your activity. Only after receiving the admission may you take up your activity.
Admission is granted for a maximum of 5 years.
Applications / forms
- Application for authorisation as a transport company (ask for it at your veterinary office or look for a form on the homepage of the veterinary office)
- Evidence (see "Prerequisites")
What else should I know?
Animal transport is subject to requirements to ensure animal welfare during transport. According to Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, no one may carry out or arrange for the transport of animals if the animals could be injured or unnecessarily suffered.
In addition, the following conditions must be met:
- Before transport, all necessary precautions have been taken to keep the journey time as short as possible and to take account of the needs of the animals during transport.
- The animals are transportable.
- The means of transport shall be designed, constructed and maintained and used in such a way as to avoid injury and suffering and to ensure their safety.
- The loading and unloading equipment shall be 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 shall be adequately trained or qualified and shall not use force or any other method in the performance of their duties which could unnecessarily frighten the animals or cause them unnecessary injury or suffering.
- Transport to the place of destination shall be carried out without delay and the welfare of the animals shall be regularly monitored and adequately maintained.
- The animals have sufficient floor space and stand height according to their size and the planned transport.
- The animals shall be provided at appropriate intervals with water and feed of appropriate quality and quantity to their species and size and shall be able to rest.
Technically approved by
Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.