Certificate of competence for killing vertebrates
Only persons with the necessary knowledge and skills may kill vertebrate animals (Section 4 (1) sentence 3 TierSchG). Anyone who regularly stuns or kills vertebrates on a professional or commercial basis must provide the competent lower administrative authority with a certificate of competence (Section 4 (1a) TierSchG).
Persons such as janitors, cemetery gardeners etc. who control vertebrate animals as pests on a small scale and not regularly as part of their professional activities do not usually require a certificate of competence.
Certificate of competence for the slaughter of animals
Anyone who cares for, restrains, stuns, slaughters or kills animals must have the necessary knowledge and skills to do so (Section 4 (1) TierSchlV).
The certificate of competence in accordance with Article 21(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) 1099/2009 is issued on application if the competence has been proven in the course of a successful examination or if proof of a qualification recognized as equivalent is provided (Section 4(2) TierSchlV).
In contrast to the certificate of competence for the killing of vertebrates, where only the knowledge and skills must be proven in a suitable manner, the professional activity of slaughtering, restraining and stunning of the animal requires a specific document, the certificate of competence.Withdrawal of the certificate in the event of violations of the provisions of Regulation (EC) 1099/2009 (EU) or the TierSchlV means that the professional activity of slaughtering, restraining and stunning may no longer be carried out.
In Baden-Württemberg, the Regierungspräsidium Tübingen, Stabstelle SES and BSI-Schwarzenbeck conduct courses with examinations to obtain the certificate of competence. Addresses of other providers in other federal states can also be found on the homepage.
