Summary
Do you operate or own a big game farm in Wallonia? Do you produce big game meat? Do you own a wildlife park open to the public?
In order to be able to slaughter livestock animals belonging to the big game category kept on your farm, you must first request a permit from the SPW Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (SPW ARNE), and more specifically from the Department of Nature and Forests (DNF) in your region.
Preserving nature in the face of the release of big game
For many years now, deer, roe deer, wild boar, mouflon and fallow deer have been abundant in our region. The presence of these wild animals sometimes causes significant damage to the forest and agricultural crops.
The release of big game is therefore not justified and may aggravate the problems caused by this damage. Accordingly it is prohibited.
If you operate a big game livestock farm, you need to be careful to limit these risks.
A permit, but for what type of operation?
In Wallonia, the law prohibits the operation of big game livestock farms the purpose of which is to release big game into the wild for hunting.
However, some big game livestock farms are still allowed to operate and these may need to slaughter big game animals on site.
These are the following livestock farms:
- Those big game livestock farms which produce game meat for consumption
- Those wildlife parks open to the public, housing big game animals
- Those private farms with deer, fallow deer, mouflon and roe deer, operated solely for the accreditation of their owner or for the production of game meat for household consumption
Do you want to slaughter large game animals?
Find out more about the conditions and the procedure below.
In detail
- Owners or operators of commercial livestock farms for the production of big game meat (deer, roe deer, wild boar, mouflon and fallow deer)
- Owners or operators of wildlife parks operated for tourism purposes, where the public may come to observe big game
- Owners of private livestock farms not open to the public, containing animals of the species deer, roe deer, fallow deer or mouflon, kept for viewing or the production of meat for the sole consumption of the owner's household
- Big game livestock farms which produce game meat for consumption:
- The slaughtering of big game animals is not subject to any special conditions under the hunting legislation
- However, other legislation imposes conditions on the slaughtering of these animals with regard to:
- the identification of animals to be slaughtered, the registration of livestock farm establishments and hygiene rules (federal jurisdiction)
- operating permits and animal welfare (regional jurisdiction)
- Wildlife farms open to the public and private farms:
- the slaughtering of large game animals may only be authorised to eliminate animals which live in overcrowded conditions, are wounded, sick or have become dangerous, or for the consumption of the household of the operator or owner
- animals which cannot be consumed by the household must be turned over to the rendering plant
This procedure is available in French and German. It is free.
1. Complete the form and send it to the Head of the station for the Department of Nature and Forestry (DNF):
- either by registered mail
- or by handing it in directly to the station in return for a receipt
- or by email
You can find the addresses and emails for the stations in "Contacts".
2. Within 20 working days, we will reach a decision concerning your request. However, in the case of the slaughtering of injured, sick or dangerous animals, we will decide within 3 working days.
3. If you do not receive a reply within this time frame, please send your request to the appropriate DNF external directorate with territorial jurisdiction (please see "Contacts")
4. If your application is accepted, you will receive a permit. It will be valid for a maximum of one year, except for private livestock farms not open to the public. For the latter, the permit will only be valid for a maximum of 15 days.
HAS YOUR APPLICATION BEEN TURNED DOWN?
In the event of a refusal within the period provided for in the regulations, you can lodge an appeal with the appropriate DNF external directorate with territorial jurisdiction. The management has 20 working days to respond. All appeals must be substantiated.
An appeal can be made to the Council of State only if your appeal to the management is unsuccessful.
- Law of 28 February 1882 with regard to hunting, Article 12 bis introduced by the decree of 14 July 1994
- Decree of the Walloon Government dated April 25, 1996 granting exemptions for the operation of certain livestock farms belonging to the categories big and other game, as well as for the purchase, transport and sale of these live farm animals