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?
For live farm livestock belonging to the big game category you must request a waiver from the administration for:
- transporting them outside your facilities
- welcoming them if they come from a livestock farm in another region or another country
- purchasing them
- selling them
The SPW Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (SPW ARNE), and more specifically the Department of Nature and Forests (DNF) station in your region, will grant you this exemption. It involves a permit. It is valid for a maximum of 1 month.
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 livestock farm, you need to be careful to limit these risks.
What exemptions are possible?
In Wallonia, the law prohibits the operation of big game livestock farms the purpose of which is to release big game into the wild.
However, some operations are licensed and may need to transport, sell or purchase live big game:
- big game livestock farms which produce game meat: they may apply for a permit to transport, purchase or sell all the species in the big game category
- wildlife parks open to the public: they can apply for a transport, purchase or sale permit for all species in the big game category
- private livestock farms with big game animals, operated for the sole purpose of the owner's pleasure or for the production of game meat for household consumption: they can apply for a transport and purchase permit for deer, fallow deer, mouflon and roe deer (not wild boar)
Do you want to transport, purchase or sell live big game?
Follow the procedure below to obtain a permit.
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
IN STAGES
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 of the stations under "Contacts".
2. Within 20 working days, we will reach a decision concerning your request
3. If your application is accepted, you will receive a permit. It will be valid for a maximum of one month
DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE TO BE PROVIDED
Only for the Walloon livestock farms which live big game animals must leave:
- Attach to your application a certificate signed by a veterinarian, dated less than three months ago, attesting to the good conditions under which the game concerned was kept and certifying that it shows no signs of contagious diseases specific to the species.
HAS YOUR APPLICATION BEEN TURNED DOWN?
In the event of a refusal, you can lodge an appeal with the external directorate of the DNF 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