Shorouk Express
Do you live in the countryside in Spain and fancy having your own chickens, cows and/or sheep? Unfortunately, even this involves a degree of bureaucracy if you want to avoid possible fines.
Like most things in Spain, things are not always as straightforward as they seem and always require a lot of bureaucracy and paperwork, even if you just want to keep some chickens in your back garden.
Chickens and other poultry
If you want to keep chickens or other poultry in Spain and use the eggs for your own consumption, you must register them first in the General Registry of Livestock Farms by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food.
Royal Decree 637/2021 establishes the basic regulations for the management of poultry farms and chicken owners. “Owners of self-consumption farms will be required to provide prior notification for inclusion in the General Registry of Livestock Farms,” it states.
READ ALSO: The new law vets in Spain hate and pet owners should know about
Although farms must have been authorised in order to be included in this registry, self-consumption farms are exempt having to do the prior notification step. You can register your chickens in person at the regional agricultural offices and online on the website of the Regional Ministry of Rural Environment in your region.
As well as registering your chickens, there are several obligations you must meet as a poultry owner.
The regulations also state that “self-consumption farms and small farms must identify a reference veterinarian to whom they can turn in the event of specific health problems”.
READ ALSO: How to legally buy a pet in Spain
Advertisement
There are also other obligations regarding using poultry for meat production. “All surgical interventions for reasons other than therapeutic or diagnostic that may result in injury or the loss of a sensitive part of the body or alteration of the bone structure are prohibited.
Some interventions, such as beak trimming or castration, may be performed, provided they have been authorised by the competent authority first.
Even for this though, the the owner must record the date the intervention is performed, the name of the person performing it, and their ID/NIE, as these must always be performed by veterinarians or qualified professionals. All animals raised on the ground must also have permanent access to bedding to prevent injuries and have a sufficient supply of water.
Failure to register your chickens or meeting any of these rules constitutes as a minor infraction, with fines or penalty ranging from €600 to €3,000.
READ ALSO: Why Spain has a day where priests bless animals
Advertisement
Cows, sheep and goats
If you want to keep cows, sheep or goats for example, then you’ll need to make sure that they’re registered in the System of Traceability. There’s own specifically for cows and another for sheep and goats combined. They are both based on the EU Regulation 2016/429 – the Animal Health Legislation.
It consists of the following elements:
Two means of identification, which contain a single identification code that allows each animal to be individually identified. Animals born up until June 30th 2025 must have the electronic code 724 or ES visibly on them which identifies Spain, as well as two digits that identify the region and then 10 digits for individual identification of the animal. Those born after this date will also need two digits that correspond to the species of the animal.
A movement document, which covers the movement of sheep and goats within the national territory to the farm or small holding. This is essentially a health certificate which can be available in either paper or electronic format. They must be kept for a minimum period of three years from the date of movement of the animal.
Advertisement
A farm logbook, which can be kept manually or electronically and must be accessible to the competent authority for a minimum period of three years.
Be registered on the SITRAN computerised database which integrates the General Registry of Livestock Farms (REGA), the Individual Animal Identification Registry (RIIA), and the General Registry of Livestock Movements (REMO).
If an animal is born on your property, it will need to be identified within a period of no more than 20 days from the date of birth. The owner will have a maximum period of 7 days to report births to the competent authority for inclusion in the registry. The birth should also be recorded in the farm’s registration book.
There are similar steps to be taken if your animals move country or if one of them dies.
Again failure to register or comply could result in hefty fines
