Practical legal support for livestock businesses, farms and aquaculture operators facing regulatory requirements, disease controls and commercial disputes.
Keeping, facilities and welfare
Species-specific husbandry, building and environmental requirements need to be considered together. A welfare-compliant housing system does not itself establish planning permission. We advise on conditions, inspections and the legal consequences of proposed changes to animal numbers, housing or operating methods.
Disease control and movement restrictions
The EU Animal Health Law and supplementary rules form a layered system for prevention, surveillance and control. Orders can affect movements, testing, biosecurity and the operation of a business. Compensation for disease-control measures depends on the statutory scheme and compliance with its conditions; it is not automatic compensation for every commercial loss.
Contracts and liability
Supply, rearing, boarding, breeding and veterinary contracts should identify health status, testing, rejection rights and allocation of outbreak risks. The liability exception in section 833 sentence 2 BGB depends on the animal’s economic purpose and the statutory defence, not simply on whether it is a cow, horse or dog.
Example: a delivery stopped by a restriction zone
A livestock supplier cannot complete a contracted delivery. The response requires the actual disease order, route, species, contract and timing. We assess possible exemptions and contractual consequences without assuming that every public restriction automatically excuses performance.
Preparing for advice
Please provide the relevant contracts or official correspondence, a dated account of events and any technical or veterinary reports. Identify the parties, the country or German state involved, and every known deadline. We will agree the appropriate next step after reviewing the documents.
Related services
Legal framework & further reading
Reviewed 8 November 2026. Examples are illustrative and do not describe reported client matters.
Discuss your matter
Send a short description, the parties involved and any deadline. We check conflicts and agree the scope and fees before starting work. For urgent matters, telephone our office as well.