Applying for authorisation to transport animals

Summary In detail Forms Links Contact

Summary

Do you transport animals to participate in an exhibition or on a long journey? Do you undertake these journeys for professional reasons?

In Wallonia, you then need an authorisation as a transporter for any journey exceeding 65 kilometres.

This authorisation is granted by the Quality and Animal Welfare Directorate (DQBEA) of the SPW Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (ARNE).

Our Directorate ensures the welfare of animals during transport to:

prevent animals from being injured or from suffering unnecessarily
ensure that they are transported in appropriate conditions to meet their needs

Which animals does this concern? This authorisation requirement concerns the transport of live vertebrate animals: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.

5-YEAR VALIDITY

With a few exceptions, this authorisation is valid for five years. See conditions under ‘Conditions’ below.
NB In the case of long-term transport, i.e. over eight hours, your means of transport has to be approved prior to any journey.

CONTROLS AND AFSCA

Controls are carried out by our Department, and by the AFSCA (Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain), to check, among other things, that you have this transport authorisation.

Do not forget to contact the AFSCA and your local control unit about the health aspects.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE CERTIFICATE (CAP)

For domestic equine animals, breeds of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry, you must also have a professional competence certificate (‘CAP’: certificat d’aptitude professionnelle).

This certificate is awarded following full training and successfully completing an examination on the animal welfare during transport. For more information, contact CER.

DO YOU NEED AN AUTHORISATION?

Would you like to apply for transporter authorisation, renew your authorisation, or modify it? Check out the full procedure below.

In detail

Target audience – details

Any natural or legal person involved in transporting animals:

on its own account: as part of an economic activity (with a BCE number)
on behalf of a third party: as part of a professional activity (in particular as an employee) when the transport of animals is necessary for the exercise of this activity

Some examples:

you specialise in transporting animals
you are a livestock dealer
you are a breeder going to a show, a competition, etc.
you transport animals as part of a touring show

You DO NOT NEED TO apply for authorisation in the following cases:

you are a private individual transporting your own dogs or those of your friends/family
you are a private individual transporting your horse for leisure or sport
you are transporting animals to or from a veterinary practice/clinic on veterinary advice
you are a breeder transporting your animals by your own means of transport within a radius of 50 km from your farm

Conditions

NB The authorisation is only required for journeys over 65 kilometres.

As a general rule, the transport of animals must comply with the following conditions:

all the necessary arrangements have been made in advance to keep the journey to a minimum and to meet the animals’ needs during the journey
the animals are fit to undertake the intended journey
the form of transport is designed, built, maintained and used in a way that avoids injury and suffering to the animals and ensures their safety
the loading and unloading equipment is designed, built, maintained and used in a way that avoids injury and suffering to the animals and ensures their safety
the staff handling the animals have the necessary training or skills to do so and carry out their tasks without resorting to violence or methods that could unnecessarily frighten the animals or cause them unnecessary injury or suffering. The staff are not known to have committed a serious breach of animal welfare legislation in the three years preceding the date of your application
They are transported without delay to the end destination and the welfare conditions of the animals are regularly monitored and properly maintained
Sufficient ground surface and height are provided for the animals, taking into account their size and the planned journey
Water, food and rest periods are provided to the animals at regular intervals and are adapted, in quality and quantity, to their species and size.

The requirements vary according to the type of animals transported:

for example: unregistered equine animals, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs: a navigation system for recording transport data, which must be kept for three years
another example: domestic equine animals, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs: temperature monitoring, warning system, + data recording which must be ready to be presented at the request of the competent authority + ventilation system (60 m³/h/KN of payload, capable of operating for at least four hours independently of the vehicle engine)
or, for all: clear, insulated roof in the form of transport, ‘live animals’ mark (on the vehicle or the containers).

Procedure

The application may be made in French or German. It is free of charge.

Complete the authorisation application form (.docx) available in the ‘Forms’ below
Send the completed form to us:
o either by email to: transportanimaux.dgo3@spw.wallonie.be specifying ‘Transport – Application for authorisation’ in the email subject
o or by post: SPW ARNE – Direction de la Qualité et du Bien-être Animal – Chaussée de Louvain, 14 – 5000 Namur
follow-up: if your file is complete, you will receive a reply from us within 30 days
• your transporter authorisation is valid for five years. Exception: one-month validity for the transport of exotic animals, not carried out by a wildlife park

NECESSARY INFORMATION AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

BCE number of the economic activity for which the animals are transported
Photos (inside and outside) of the transport vehicles
If there is an infringement of animal welfare legislation: you must provide us with proof that corrective measures have been taken in the three years before your application for authorisation. This concerns the applicant for authorisation as well as the persons handling the animals during transport
For domestic equine animals, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry: please submit a copy of the professional competence certificate
In the case of short-term transport (less than 8 hours): please provide information on the staff responsible for transporting, the equipment, and the transport procedures
In the case of long-term transport (over 8 hours): a copy of the valid authorisation certificates for all forms of transport + emergency plans to be followed