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Animal Keeping Act (No. 432 of 2004).

Country
Denmark
Type of law
Legislation
Date of original text
Source
FAO , FAOLEX
Abstract
The present Act regulates how animals are kept in Denmark, aiming to ensure responsible animal husbandry, protect animal welfare, and uphold food safety and public health. The Act applies broadly to animals in human care, wildlife, and animal-derived products. It mandates standards for registration, identification, sale, and transport of animals and empowers the Minister for Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries to implement educational, hygiene, and health regulations for animal keepers. The law also regulates animal breeding, including requirements for pedigree registration and genetic materials like embryos and semen, and offers subsidies for preserving rare Danish livestock breeds. It empowers different governmental bodies to regulate the different areas covered by the Act.
Furthermore, the Act establishes comprehensive measures to prevent and manage infectious diseases and zoonoses (diseases transmissible from animals to humans). It outlines government powers to control disease outbreaks, including mandatory testing, quarantine, vaccination, or culling of animals, and handling of contaminated products. Veterinary inspections, public reporting, and control of animal feed and waste are key parts of this system. The Act also governs the import, export, and transport of animals and products, and mandates registration and oversight of related businesses. Provisions for digital communication, enforcement, penalties, and appeals are included to ensure compliance and accountability.
The Act consists of 16 Chapters: Scope and purpose (1); Keeping, registration, labeling and sale of animals (2); Dangerous animals (3); Keeping of certain animal species (4); Livestock breeding (5); Animal diseases and infections (6); Veterinary Fund (6a); Import and export of animals (7); Semen, ova and embryos (8); Animal waste and feed (9); Storage and use of drugs (10); Payment and compensation (11); Control in connection with group delivery of slaughter pigs and publication of inspection results (12); Appeals and delegation (13); Mandatory digital communication (13a); The European Union (14); Penalties and loss of right (15); Entry into force (16).
Attached files
http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/den133677_2004.pdf
http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/den133677.pdf
Web site
http://www.retsinformation.dk
Date of consolidation/reprint
Entry into force notes
1 February 2017.
Notes
The Consolidated corresponds to Consolidation Act no. 62 of 19 January 2024.
Repealed
No
Source language

English

Legislation status
in force
Legislation Amendment
No
Original title
Lov om hold af dyr.
Amended by
Act amending Act on Animal Keeping (No. 1615 of 2013).
Act amending the Animal Keeping Act and the Veterinary Act (No. 562 of 2012).
Act amending legal provisions on delegation to other governmental authorities under the Ministry of Food and Ministry of Family and Consumer Affairs (No. 404 of 2005).
Act amending various laws (No. 431 of 2005).
Act amending various provisions in areas of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries for mandatory digital communication (No. 1459 of 2013).
Act relevant to taxation (No. 1336 of 2008).
Implemented by
Order No. 1319 on special measures to reduce consumption of antibiotics in swine herds.
Order No. 54 on communicable diseases in connection with Animal Keeping Act.
Order No. 77 on banning export of certain live animals to Bulgaria.
Order No. 558 on storage of animals for production.
Order No. 830 banning export of live animals to Bulgaria.
Order No. 871 on Ornithosis (Psittacosis).
Order No. 893 on banning import poultry, birds and animal products from certain countries.
Order No. 225 on control of Mastitis.
Order No. 754 on breeding cervids.
Order No. 987 on withdrawal of EU subsidies for avian influenza routine surveillance in 2008 and 2009.
Order No. 1085 on veterinarian authorization to antibiotic administration to swine herds.
Order No. 1086 on veterinarian authorization for prescription of antibiotics to swine herds.
Order No. 6 on der on self-monitoring transport when delivering swine.
Order No. 554 on the identification of low pathogenic avian influenza in Løvel in Viborg.
Order No. 584 on grant of subsidy for the conservation of animal genetic resources for 2013.
Order no. 1273 on vaccination against Newcastle disease, including paramyxovirus 1 in pigeons.
Order No. 967 on the monitoring and recording of Infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) and Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD).
Order No. 965 on authorization and operation of farms and on the turnover of aquatic organisms and products.
Order No. 968 on monitoring and controlling certain infectious diseases in aquatic organisms.
Order No. 1650 on administration and auditing of the Veterinary Fund.
Order No. 179 on special measures to reduce the use of antibiotics in pig herds.
Order No. 163 on disinfection of transport vehicles used to transport pigs in Lithuania or Poland.
Ortder No. 178 on levels of antibiotics in cattle and pig farms.
Order No. 180 on health advisory agreements for pig herds.
Order No. 177 on health advisory agreements for cattle herds.
Order No. 413 on hygiene and disinfection procedures of means of transport used for swine transportation to Lithuania and/or Poland.
Order No. 991 on administration and auditing of the Veterinary Fund.
Order No. 1079 on monitoring of bovine tuberculosis in goats.
Order No. 1141 on Anthrax.
Order No. 1263 on the recognition of professional qualifications in the field of artificial insemination of animals.
Order No. 1426 on additional provisions for the transfer of cloven-hoofed animals.
Order No. 1422 on housing of mink and fencing of mink farms.
Order No. 1428 on Aujeszky's disease.
Order No. 1429 on combating African horse sickness.
Order No. 1651 on limit values for antibiotic use and mortality of cattle and pig herds.
Order No. 92 on confinement measures against avian influenza for poultry and other captive birds.
Order No. 1491 on monitoring and control of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) in sheep and goats.
Order No. 1567 on permission for the burial of fur animals.
Order No. 24 on artificial Insemination of fur animals.
Order No. 377 on Covid-19 in fur animals.
Order No. 1280 of plasmacytosis in fur animals.
Order No. 1234 on burial sites for pets and horses and their burial on private property.
Order No. 1305 on hygienization of transportation equipment for cloven-hoofed animals.
Order No. 1166 on imports of food with special restrictions.
Order No. 1165 on veterinary monitoring on imports animal-origin food.
Order No. 1015 on penalties for violations set out under the Commission Regulation (EU) No. 176/2010 amending Annex D to Council Directive 92/65/EEC with respect to semen collection and storage centers, wellbeing of donor animals (equine, ovine and caprine), and the handling of semen, eggs and embryos thereof.
Order No. 31 on veterinary approval of zoos.
Order No. 24 for authorization of laboratories handling foot and mouth disease virus.
Order No. 165 on penalties for violation of certain animal by-products not intended for humans regulations.
Order No. 302 on the use of organic soil fertilizers with animal contents.
Order No. 499 on control of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) in cattle.
Order No. 161 on bluetongue vaccination.
Order No. 573 on non-commercial transport of domestic pets.
Order No. 1261 on control of foot and mouth disease.
Order No. 1288 on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) control on sheeps and caprines.
Order No. 404 on salmonella in swine.
Order No. 933 on control of bluetongue disease.
Order No. 544 on health advisory agreements for cattle herds.
Order No. 545 on health advisory agreements for pig herds.
Order No. 954 on Salmonella in cattle.
Order No. 952 on the control of salmonella in hatching chickens and turkeys.
Order No. 953 on the control of salmonella in egg herds and their breeding.
Order No. 1355 on penalties for violating Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 139/2013.
Order No. 210 on commercial trade of livestock.
Order No. 534 on health advisory agreements for pig herds.
Order No. 536 on approval of veterinarian laboratories.
Order No. 544 on examination for Trichinella in meat.
Order No. 558 on the functions and powers of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.
Order No. 560 on functions and powers of the Ministry of Food Appeal Centre.
Order No. 1160 on compensation and expenses for the inspection and prevention of livestock diseases.
Order No. 1183 on salmonella in swine.
Order No. 1280 on salmonella in swine.
Order No. 1323 on compensation and expenses for the inspection and prevention of livestock diseases.
Order No. 1325 on EU trade in sheep and caprines and their import from developing countries.
Order No. 1324 on monitoring and controlling certain infectious diseases in aquatic organisms.
Order No. 1326 on control of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) in cattle.
Order No. 1327 on controlling vesicular stomatitis.
Order No. 1322 on controlling classical swine fever.
Order No. 1328 on controlling sheep and goat plague, and sheep and goat pox.
Order No. 1365 on commercial trade of livestock.
Order No. 1361 on the use of medicines for animals, official controls and food companies self-monitoring of residues.
Order no. 1479 on vaccination against Newcastle disease, including paramyxovirus 1 in pigeons.
Order No. 1470 on plasmacytosis in fur animals.
Order No. 1481 on BVD in cattle.
Order No. 1468 on protective measures in outbreaks of low pathogenic avian influenza of type H5/H7 in poulty and other captive birds.
Order No. 1467 on controlling rinderpest.
Order No. 1469 on fighting African Swine Fever.
Order No. 1480 on the control of swine vesicular disease.
Order No. 1509 on breeding ratites.
Order No. 1495 on breeding of foxes.
Order No. 1498 on the recognition of professional qualifications in rearing fox, game birds, deer and ratites.
Order No. 1496 on breeding of feathered animals.
Order No. 1497 on breeding cervids.
Order No. 1556 on IBR infection in cattle.
Order No. 1426 on salmonella in swine.
Regulation No. 671 on official control for the export of live animals and breeding material to third countries.
Order No. 1252 on Aujeszky's disease.
Order No. 965 on public control for the movement of live animals and breeding material between Denmark and other countries in the common trade area and for the importation of live animals and breeding material into Denmark from third countries.
Order No. 1319 on the training, etc., of individuals responsible for the operation of mink farms, as well as training of individuals directly supervising the killing of fur animals in fur farms.
Order No. 86 on mandatory health counseling in mink farms.
Order No. 886 on Salmonella in cattle.
Order No. 947 on payment for food control and live animals.
Order No. 265 on technical requirements and approval for (electronic) earmarking, tags and chips for bovine, suine, ovine and caprine.
Order No. 330 on Rabies.
Order No. 1270 on bull semen and insemination of cattle.
Order No. 1276 on EU trade in sheep and caprines and their import from developing countries.
Order No. 1105 on measures of salmonellosis Campylobacter in poultry.
Order No. 1237 on CHR registration of herds.
Order No. 627 on insemination of sheeps/goats.
Order No. 971 on import of food with special restrictions and on penal provisions for the violation of various EU laws.
Order No. 351 on Salmonella in cattle.
Order No. 368 on veterinary controls on import of animal-originating food and on penalties for infringement of related EU legislation.
Order No. 712 on duty monitoring for avian influenza in poultry and farmed feathered game.
Order No. 1192 on Salmonella in cattle.
Order No. 1295 on conservation of animal genetic resources for 2015 and 2016.
Order No. 973 on CHR registration of herds.
Order No. 1134 on the control of salmonella in egg herds and breeding thereof.
Order No. 1512 on measures taken on salmonellosis in poultry and Salmonella and Campylobacter in slaughter poultry.
Order No. 1432 on use of medicines for animals, official controls and food companies self-monitoring of residues.
Order No. 1236 on donor animals and import/export of breeding material.
Order No. 963 on imports of feed stuff with special restrictions and criminal penalties for violation of various EU acts.
Order No. 964 on import of food with special restrictions and on penal provisions for the violation of various EU laws.
Order No. 48 on Food and Veterinary Appeals.
Order No. 405 on technical requirements and approval for (electronic) earmarking, tags and chips for bovine, suine, ovine and caprine.
Order No. 953 on Food Administration Authority's functions and powers.
Order No. 670 on Food Administration Authority's functions and powers.
Order No. 671 on Ministry of Food Appeals Centre functions and powers.
Order No. 669 on the Danish Agricultural Agency's duties and powers.
Order No. 1369 on payment for control of food, feed and live animals.
Order No. 646 on imports of feed stuff with special restrictions and criminal penalties for violation of various EU acts.
Order No. 647 on import of food with special restrictions and penal provisions for the violation of various EU laws.
Order No. 1428 on technical requirements and approval for (electronic) earmarking, tags and chips for bovine, swine, ovine and caprine.
Order No. 31 on Veterinarian inspection.
Order No. 227 on the control of salmonella in egg herds and breeding thereof.
Order No. 331 on veterinary monitoring of imported animal-origin food.
Order No. 394 on Food Administration Authority's functions and powers.
Order No. 395 on Food Regions.
Order No. 401 on Food industry functions and powers.
Order No. 715 on veterinary controls on import of animal-originating food and on penalties for infringement of related EU legislation.
Order No. 1203 on Food Administration Authority's functions and powers.
Order No. 308 on the functions and powers of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.
Order No. 310 on functions and powers of the Ministry of Food Appeal Centre.
Order No. 25 on veterinary controls on import of animal-originating food and on penalties for infringement of related EU legislation.
Order No. 220 on veterinary controls on import of animal-originating food and on penalties for infringement of related EU legislation.
Order No. 1545 on payment for control of food, feed and live animals.
Order No. 164 on veterinary controls on import of animal-originating food and on penalties for infringement of related EU legislation.
Order No. 1181 on imports of feed stuff with special restrictions and criminal penalties for violation of various EU acts.
Order No. 1629 on payment for control of food, feed and live animals etc.
Order No. 846 on import of food with special restrictions.
Order No. 374 on marking, registering and transport of cattle, pigs, sheep or goats.
Order No. 396 on import of food with special restrictions and penalties for violation of various acts of the EU legislation.
Order No. 1090 on marking, registering and transport of cattle, pigs, sheep or goats.
Order No. 1168 on import of food with special restrictions and on penal provisions for the violation of various EU laws.
Order No. 1349 on imports of food with special restrictions and on penalties for the infringement of various EU acts.
Order No. 1273 on the Danish Agricultural Agency's duties and powers.
Order No. 892 on import of food with special restrictions and penal provisions for the violation of various EU laws.
Order No. 909 on import of food with special restrictions and penal provisions for the violation of various EU laws.
Order No. 511 on the functions and powers of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.
Order No. 512 on the Danish Agricultural Agency's duties and powers.
Order No. 513 on functions and powers of the Ministry of Environment and Food Appeals Centre.
Order No. 979 on import of food with special restrictions and on penal provisions for the violation of various EU laws.
Order No. 888 on functions and powers of the Ministry of Food Appeals Centre.
Order No. 887 on the Danish Agricultural Agency's duties and powers.
Order No. 472 on import of food with special restrictions and on penal provisions for the violation of various EU laws.
Order No. 406 on veterinary control of imports of food of animal-origin and penalties for the violation of related EU legislation.