This information sheet summarizes the most important legal rules to consider when members of foreign armed forces import pets, plants and hunting trophies for private purposes into the Federal Republic of Germany (updated 24 January 06). 
 

1. General

Besides customs regulations, there are other legal rules to consider when importing pets, plants and products made of animal parts such as hunting trophies. These regulations are used specifically to protect:

- nature and endangered species,

- the animal world from the introduction of livestock diseases,

- the plant world from the transmission of pests,

- public order and safety from the import of dangerous dogs.

For some of the above items, permits or documentation are necessary that are not issued by the customs administration, but another office.

2. Animals

·         Dogs and domestic cats

The import of a maximum of three animals is allowed for private purposes, i.e., not for transfer to a third party. When going through customs, you must present proof of rabies vaccination. The vaccination must have occurred at least 30 days and at the most 12 months before entry into Germany. Repeat vaccinations that occurred a maximum of 12 months after the previous rabies vaccination and a maximum of 12 months before entry are also permissible. The vaccination certification must be submitted in German or with an officially approved German translation.

·         Dangerous dogs

In Germany there is an import ban for dogs classified as dangerous ("Fighting dogs"). According to this law, specific dog breeds as well as dogs crossbred among those breeds or dogs of those breeds crossbred with other dogs may not be transported to Germany from any country outside of the European Union (EU) or from another member state.

These dog breeds are:

- Pit bull Terrier,

- American Staffordshire-Terrier,

- Staffordshire bull terrier as well as

- Bull terrier.

Dogs of other breeds as well as cross-breeds may also not be imported from a foreign country if they are considered dangerous by the rules of the state in which the dog is going to be kept continuously.

The individual states determine the list of these dog breeds and it is therefore different in every state. The breeds that regularly appear on these lists include:

- Alano                                    - Dogue de Bordeaux                        - Pitbull Bandog

- American Bulldog                - Fila Brasileiro                                   - Perro de Presa Canario

- Bullmastiff                            - Mastiff                                              - Perro de Presa Mallorcin

- Cane Corso                         - Mastin Espanol                                - Tosa Inu

- Dogo Argentino                    - Mastino Napoletano            

Since the above list is not definitive, we recommend you ask the public safety office (Ordnungsamt) of the city in which you will be living whether your dog is classified as dangerous prior to importing it.

Exceptions to policy exist for working dogs and guide-dogs for disabled people, if the dog owner has the papers necessary for the inspection of the animals (e.g., certificate of origin, vaccination pass, behavior test certification, other documents required by the local public safety office). 

·         Parrots and parakeets

The import of a maximum of three animals is allowed for private purposes (i.e., not intended for transfer to third parties). A health certificate from a veterinarian that is no older than 10 days old must be submitted that shows that the animals were found to be healthy and, to the veterinarian’s knowledge, were not exposed at origin to any diseases transferable to parrots and parakeets during the last 30 days. Endangered species legislation may need to be considered (see chapter 4).

·         Domestic rabbits, ferrets and birds (except poultry, parrots and parakeets)

The import of a maximum of three animals is allowed for private purposes (i.e., not intended for transfer to third parties).

·         Horses

Horses from third countries may be entered into the EU or the Federal Republic only at specific customs border offices. These customs offices work with government veterinarians who carry out the livestock health clearance. Before you import a horse, you must find out which customs offices are authorized to clear live animals. You can find more information in chapter 5 “Customs Information Offices.”

Currently, import permits are not required for horses from the United States of America. As a rule, however, a health certificate is needed. The border veterinarians can tell you which documents must be presented on an individual basis.

·         Hunting trophies

When importing hunting trophies, different regulations exist according to animal species, country of origin and the trophy’s preservation state. These are subject to change at short notice, for example, if livestock disease breaks out in some part of the world. Again, it is therefore necessary to get in touch with the customs import office or the responsible border veterinarian well in advance of an intended import.

Endangered species legislation must also be considered (see chapter 4).

3. Plants

The import of plants, plant products and other items that are infested by particularly dangerous pests is fundamentally prohibited. Since every plant has the potential to be infested by pests, plants are generally subject to special inspection.
If you want to bring living plants, plant parts (for example cut flowers), fruits or seeds to Germany, you should consider the following tips and import restrictions. This way you avoid endangering our natural environment and agriculture.

 

For example, the following plants and vegetable matter may never be imported into Germany from countries outside of the EU:

 

·         Grapevines, vine leaves

·         Earth and plant substrate, except for pure peat without plants, from most East European and overseas countries.

Even plants, plant parts and plant products that are not subject to any general import prohibition often require a plant health certificate from the country of origin even for personal use imports(for example in the case of imports from American, Asiatic and African states or Australia).

For the import of plants, plant parts and plant products from member states of the EU, from other European countries as well as Mediterranean countries, no plant health certificate is necessary as a rule if the shipment is for personal use or in household goods.

Should you intend to import plants, plant parts or plant products, it is recommended you contact the proper customs office in advance.

4. Protected animals and plants (Endangered species)

To prevent the extinction of wild animal and plant species, general import prohibitions exist for many living and dead items, and products manufactured from them.

Specific documents are required to import other protected animal and plant species (living and dead) and products manufactured from them into the EU. These are, as a rule, an export license issued by the proper authority of the exporting country and an import permit issued by the responsible nature conservation office of the importing country.

If prohibited items are detected at the time of import or if the required import/export permit is missing, the items are seized and you can receive a hefty fine.

That is why you should not import:

·         Skins from all cat, bear and wolf species

·         Elephant and rhinoceros products

·         Live or stuffed birds

·         Crocodiles, caymans and snakes as well as products made from them (for example leather products)

·         Cactuses or cactus-like plants, tillandsia and orchids

·         Corals, mussel and snail shells

Special rules apply when importing products for personal use, i.e., items that are entered into the EU for non-commercial purposes. The items must be in your personal possession, be part of your belongings and be in your accompanied baggage. Only trophies you yourself have hunted can be imported or shipped at a later date. For such imports, facilitated document procedures exist.

However, when importing hunting trophies as well as before a planned hunting trip, we recommend you call the Federal Office for Nature Conservation at 0228-84910.

Personal use (and the related special exemptions) cannot be claimed for live animals and plants, gifts for other persons, and mail shipments .

If you have questions relating to the import of endangered species, please call the Federal Office for Nature Conservation (Bundesamt für Naturschutz - BfN).

You will find a complete list of all endangered animal and plant species as well as explanations about existing regulations on the Internet at www.bfn.de.

5. Customs Information Offices

More information is available on the Internet site of the Federal Customs Administration www.zoll.de under customs and taxes; prohibitions and restrictions. On the homepage, there is a link to the customs administration office list. There, for example, you will find the customs offices which are authorized to customs clear live horses marked with a "T".

For further information, the customs information center in Offenbach is available at the following address:

Customs Information Center
Friedrichsring 35

63069 Offenbach am Main
Telephone: 069-46997600
Fax: 069-46997699
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , home page in German http://www.zoll.de/infocenter/index.html.

Telephonic enquiries can be made Monday - Thursday 07:00 - 17:00 hours Central European Time and on Fridays 07:00 - 16:00 hours CET.

In Bavaria, the two regional customs service centers support you: Fürth for Northern Bavaria and Munich for Southern Bavaria:

Fürth Customs Service Center                                            Munich Customs Service Center

Luisenstrasse 11                                                                  Landsberger Strasse 124     
90762 Fürth                                                                           80339 Munich

Telephone: 0911/971186-555                                               Telephone: 089/5109-2555

Fax: 0911/971186-599                                                          Fax: 089/5109/2570

E-mail address: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it                                    E-Mail address: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it