Applying for a special permit for livestock exhibitions and markets

• You submit the application for an exemption permit together with all the necessary documents to the competent body in writing or electronically.
• The competent authority will check your documents. If necessary, it will request further documents or information from you.
• The competent body will check your application and you will receive a decision.
• If your application is complete and meets the requirements, you will receive the exemption permit.

In deviation from the legal requirements for livestock exhibitions and livestock markets, you can apply for an exemption permit if the following conditions are met:

• The venue does not meet all the requirements for fencing, access routes and cleaning facilities that are normally prescribed for livestock exhibitions or livestock markets.
• There are no concerns regarding the control of animal diseases that would speak against the event.
• Your event is a livestock exhibition, a small-scale livestock market or a fair or weekly market that is exempt from official veterinary supervision.

Please provide the following information in the application and enclose the relevant supporting documents:

• Completed application for exemption (with details of the event, venue and livestock)
• Justification for the necessity of the requested exemption
• Site plan of the event venue with marking of entrances and exits
• Proof of existing cleaning and disinfection facilities for vehicles and persons
• Information on the accommodation of the animals (e.g. accommodation rooms, quarantine rooms)
• Hygiene concept for the event
• Veterinary certificate or expert opinion, if applicable
• if applicable. Proof of exemption from official veterinary inspection (e.g. for annual or weekly markets)
• If applicable, previous approval notices or comparable documents (for recurring events)

Fees will be charged. The amount of the fees depends on the individual case.

Contact the responsible authority in good time, but at least 6 weeks before the planned event.
You need the special permit before the planned event takes place.

If all the necessary documents are available, processing can take up to 6 weeks.

• § 3 Absatz 2 Verordnung zum Schutz gegen die Verschleppung von Tierseuchen im Viehverkehr (ViehVerkV)
• § 6 Verordnung zum Schutz gegen die Verschleppung von Tierseuchen im Viehverkehr (ViehVerkV)

Contradiction

As the organizer, you must meet the following requirements for the event location if you do not have an exemption permit:

• The place where the livestock exhibition or livestock market is to be held or set up is fenced in such a way that the entrances and exits through which the animals can be moved are monitored.
• Paths and roads as well as places for loading and unloading livestock transport vehicles must be paved, easy to clean and disinfectable.
• A special area with a liquid-impermeable floor and pressurized water is available for cleaning and disinfecting vehicles.
• The floor of the area slopes down to a drain that is connected to the sewage system or another facility for the disposal of waste water.
• Rooms for the temporary accommodation of livestock have a liquid-impermeable floor and smooth, easy-to-clean and disinfectable walls.
• Accommodation rooms for livestock are adequately lit.
• Where necessary, the rooms are divided into pens and have facilities for tethering.
• There is a special room for isolating infected or suspect animals.
• Facilities for cleaning and disinfecting hands and footwear are available for people working on the drive.
• There is a suitable facility for storing animal by-products.

These farm animals belong to the livestock category:

• Horses, donkeys, mules, hinnies, zebras and zebroids,
• Cattle including bison, bison and water buffalo,
• sheep and goats,
• pigs,
• hares, rabbits,
• ducks, pheasants, geese, chickens, ratites, guinea fowl, partridges, pigeons, turkeys and quails,
• game birds,
• camelids.

24.04.2025

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.