Authority for Justice and Consumer Protection

Apply for approval for animal testing

If you want to carry out animal experiments, you need official approval before starting the experiment. In particular, interventions and treatments for experimental purposes on animals that can cause suffering or harm to the animals are to be classified as animal experiments.

Detailed description

If you want to carry out animal experiments, you generally need permission from the responsible authority before the experiment begins.



Animal testing is an intervention or treatment

  • for experimental purposes on animals if they may cause pain, suffering or harm to these animals
  • for experimental purposes on animals that may result in the birth or hatching of animals that suffer pain, suffering or harm
  • for experimental purposes on the genetic material of animals if they can cause pain, suffering or damage to the genetically modified animals or their carrier animals
  • which are carried out for the production, extraction, storage or reproduction of substances, products or organisms
  • through which organs or tissues are removed in whole or in part for scientific purposes or for training, further education or training purposes
 

Information

Prerequisites

  • The experiment is essential and cannot be replaced by alternative methods.
  • It has not yet been carried out in this way.
  • A gain in knowledge is plausibly presented.
  • Personnel requirements are met: If you manage, plan and carry out animal experiments, you must demonstrate expertise, especially with regard to stressful procedures and treatments, based on the procedure and the animal species
  • Necessary facilities, equipment and other material resources must be available.

For animal experiments carried out in laboratory animal facilities, a permit for the relevant animal species is required in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act.

Documents required

  • Application form for approval or notification of animal experiments
  • Non-technical project summary (NTP) must contain:
    • the purpose of the experiment
    • the expected benefit
    • the expected pain, suffering and/or damage
  • the animal species and number of animals as well as the fulfillment of the requirements according to the Animal Protection Act (essential level, alternative methods to animal testing, indispensability, stress assessment, sensory-physiological development level)
  • Glossary of abbreviations and specific terms used in the text
  • List of literature citations (if not included in the text)
  • If applicable, form “Final assessment of genetically modified breeding lines”
  • Load table
  • Score sheet
  • Recording sample according to Section 9 Paragraph 5 Animal Protection Act
  • if necessary, personal forms
  • Evidence of training, knowledge, skills and experience in animal experiments of the people involved
  • If necessary, forms “Information on biometric planning”
  • Statistical report
  • Statement from the animal protection officer

Please note

  • Only animal experiments that are required by law are subject to the simplified approval process.
  • Experimental projects in which decapods are used are subject to the reporting requirement.

Deadlines

The responsible body must inform you of a decision on the application within 40 working days of receipt of an application that complies with animal welfare regulations. The deadline can be extended once by up to 15 working days. Clarification of open questions will result in the application being considered incomplete. Even after the specified period has expired, the experimental project may only begin if approval has been obtained.


The deadline for a decision on the application only begins when all the necessary information has been submitted. Missing documents will be requested later.


You may only begin animal testing after receiving approval.

Procedure

  • After you have submitted the necessary documents, including a statement from the animal welfare officer on the experimental project, they will be checked for formal completeness.
  • You will be sent a formal confirmation of receipt.
  • The application will then be presented to the commission for review at the next possible meeting.
  • The Commission's opinion will be taken into account accordingly during the examination by the competent authority.
  • If any questions or a need for clarification arise, you will be asked to comment on this in writing before a final decision is made.

Processing time

The processing time depends on the type of application.

Fees

The amount of the fee depends on the effort required to process it.

Legal remedies

contradiction

Legal basis

Animal Welfare Act


Animal Welfare Laboratory Animal Ordinance

Links on hamburg.de

Address and contact information

Authority for Justice and Consumer Protection

Protection of Laboratory Animals

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Keywords: Animal testing Animal welfare law Laboratory animals

Last updated: 10.10.2026