Danish transporters are authorised by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. Authorisation is required, if animals are transported more than 65 km in connection with an economic activity.
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration interprets "economic activity" in such a way that authorisation must be issued as follows:
- Traditional transporters
- Farmers transporting their animals to a slaughterhouse or in order to sell them
- Persons transporting animals to a market/an auction/an assembly centre
- Animal traders who transport animals
- Professional trainers of race and competition horses
In some instances, deciding whether or not authorisation is needed has to be made on a case-by-case basis.
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration grants authorisations to transporters carrying out 'short journeys' (max. 8 hours) vs. 'long journeys' (all journeys) upon application.
The authorisation system for transporters includes that the transporter receives an application form containing a declaration, EU legislation and guidance with reference to national legislation. The application form and declaration is completed and signed by the transporter.
The transporters demonstrate that they have sufficient and appropriate staff (including certificates of training and/or competence), equipment (certificate of approval for means of transport) and operational procedures at their disposal to enable them to comply with the EU legislation on protection of animals during transport, including where appropriate Good Practice Guides, as well as national legislation.
If the applicant has records of serious infringements of community legislation and/or national legislation on the protection of animals in three years preceding the date of the application, the applicant has to demonstrate that all necessary measures to avoid further infringements have been taken.
In addition, transporters carrying out long journeys have to submit the following documents:
- Certificates of competence for drivers and attendants carrying out long journeys
- Certificates of approval for means of transports to be used for long journeys
- Procedures enabling tracing/recording vehicles and contacting drivers during long journeys
- Contingency plans
Upon receiving the signed application form and all necessary documentation, an authorisation certificate is issued, and the transporter is entered into a register. The authorisation certificate is valid for 5 years and contains information about date, file number, name and address of the transporter, authorisation number, types of animals as well as modes of transport.
Authorized transporters
List of the name and authorisation number of transporters performing long journeys
