Navigating the bureaucracy of keeping farm animals in Spain

If you're considering raising chickens, cows, or sheep in the Spanish countryside, be prepared for a maze of bureaucracy. Owning farm animals in Spain requires a thorough understanding of various regulations to avoid potential fines.

Keeping Chickens and Other Poultry

For those wishing to keep chickens or other poultry for personal egg consumption, registration is mandatory. You must enroll your birds in the General Registry of Livestock Farms, overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food.

According to Royal Decree 637/2021, which outlines the essential regulations for poultry management, owners of self-consumption farms are required to notify authorities for inclusion in this registry. Although self-consumption farms are exempt from prior notification requirements, registration is still necessary, which can be done either in person at regional agricultural offices or online through the Regional Ministry of Rural Environment's website.

Beyond registration, poultry owners have specific obligations. Notably, they must designate a reference veterinarian for health issues. Regulations also stipulate that non-therapeutic surgical interventions, such as beak trimming or castration, require prior authorization from the competent authority. Owners must meticulously document every intervention, including the date, the name of the veterinarian, and their ID/NIE.

Furthermore, animals must have constant access to bedding and adequate water to prevent injuries. Noncompliance with these regulations can lead to fines ranging from €600 to €3,000 for minor infractions.

Raising Cows, Sheep, and Goats

If you aim to keep cows, sheep, or goats, registration in the System of Traceability is essential. Specific systems exist for cattle and for sheep and goats, both informed by EU Regulation 2016/429 concerning animal health.

Key requirements include:

- Two forms of identification for each animal, featuring a unique code. Animals born before June 30, 2025, must display the electronic code 724 or ES, along with a regional identifier and a 10-digit individual number. Those born thereafter will also require species-specific identifiers.

- A movement document is necessary for the transport of sheep and goats within Spain, serving as a health certificate. This document must be retained for at least three years from the date of the animal's movement.

- A farm logbook, which can be maintained either manually or electronically, must be available for inspection by authorities for a minimum of three years.

- Registration on the SITRAN computerized database, which integrates various registries essential for livestock management.

If an animal is born on your property, it must be identified within 20 days, and births must be reported to authorities within seven days. Similar procedures apply when animals are relocated or if one dies.

Failure to adhere to these registration and compliance measures can lead to substantial fines, underscoring the importance of understanding Spain's regulatory landscape for farm animal ownership.