Federal Act on the Veterinary Profession

What does the Federal Act on the Veterinary Profession contain?

§ 1 describes the purpose: to prevent, alleviate, and cure suffering and disease in animals, to contribute to maintaining a productive livestock population, and to protect humans from risks arising from animal diseases and from food of animal origin. Paragraph 2 makes clear that the veterinary profession is not a trade but, by its nature, a liberal profession. § 2(1) ties the practice of the profession to licensure, § 4 lists the requirements for it, § 11 governs the temporary practice permit, § 12 the authorisation for the scale of fees, and § 13 the jurisdiction of the states.

How is it connected to the TAppV?

The statute sets the framework; the ordinance provides the detail. § 5(1) BTÄO authorises the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, with the consent of the Federal Council, to regulate by statutory instrument the minimum requirements for training as well as the specifics of examinations and licensure, expressly taking account of Article 38 of Directive 2005/36/EC. The TAppV was enacted under this authorisation.

What does this mean for graduates from EU countries abroad?

The BTÄO has an annex to § 4(1a). This lists, for each EU and EEA state, the recognised veterinary training qualifications, the issuing authority, and a reference date. This annex corresponds to Annex V No. 5.4.2 of Directive 2005/36/EC, and the Federal Ministry may update it to reflect subsequent EU amendments without the consent of the Federal Council. Anyone who presents a diploma from Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Malta, or the Baltic states that is listed there and relates to training begun after the reference date does not undergo a substantive equivalence review. If the wording of the qualification differs, a certificate from the home state confirming compliance with the minimum requirements of Article 38 suffices under § 4(1a).

Where the BTÄO ends

It does not govern professional conduct, specialist training, or chamber membership. Those are matters of state law and fall within the remit of the state veterinary associations. Nor does any federal body grant the licence: under § 13 BTÄO, the states decide, which in practice leads to differences in processing times, forms, and fees. For questions about one’s individual situation, the competent state authority provides information.