Applications for a certificate of competence should be made to the DDPP at the prefecture in your department. To qualify for this, please refer to the decree of 12 December 2000 below setting out the qualifications and conditions for professional experience. This will determine the MINIMUM DUTY OF EXPERIENCE required by the authorities for the species you are applying for, depending on your qualifications, experience and professional background. Please do not hesitate to contact the application department.
https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/LEGITEXT000021122566/
There is no application form as such, but there is a form that you should follow. The application will depend on your experience, qualifications, career path and the species requested. It is important not to copy applications submitted by other holders, as this is a personal application that depends on your background and experience in non-domestic species. Above is the application form sent by the Var DDPP, which you can use to compile your application.
The certificate of competence alone is not enough for you to keep the species requested. You will also need authorisation to open a non-domestic species establishment. It is these two administrative authorisations and the species listed in your establishment licence that give you the right to keep or breed the species for which you have obtained the authorisations.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
APPENDIX I
APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE FOR THE CARE AND BREEDING OF ANIMALS OF NON-DOMESTIC SPECIES
(Art. L. 413-2 and Art. R. 413-4 of the Environment Code)
The application for a certificate of competence must be sent to the prefect of the applicant’s département of residence,
must include the following information:
I. The letter of application for a certificate of competence :
The letter of application should read as follows:
“I, the undersigned (surname and forename), hereby submit an application for a certificate of competence for the amateur/professional (profit-making) breeding of farm animals
of non-domestic species. I certify on my honour that the information I have provided in this application is correct
in this application”
It must be dated and signed.
It is important that all the information described below is included in the letter of application for a certificate of competence, so that the examining body can make an informed decision
certificate of competence so that the examining body (DDPP) can clearly identify the purpose of the application before initiating
the application.
A – IDENTIFICATION OF THE APPLICANT
❑First name and surname
❑Date and place of birth
❑Current occupation
❑Home address
❑Telephone number
❑Electronic address
B – ACTIVITIES COVERED BY THE APPLICATION
❑Hobby breeding
❑Professional breeding
❑Professional breeding: scaring activity using birds of prey, wildlife care.
C – LIST OF ANIMAL SPECIES FOR WHICH THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE
IS REQUIRED (1)
❑ Species or groups of species for which maximum numbers are defined in columns (b) and/or (c) of
annex 2 of the Order of 8 October 2018 laying down the general rules for the keeping of animals of non-domestic species
for the operation of facilities for the breeding and keeping of animals of non-domestic species: specify which.
(scientific and vernacular names).
❑ Species or groups of species that fall, regardless of the number of animals held, under column (a) of Annex 2 of the aforementioned Order
of 8 October 2018 referred to above: specify the zoological class.
D – ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
❑Copy of national identity card or first four pages of passport
❑A statement on honour drawn up by the applicant stating that he/she has not been convicted by a
criminal court
II. DIPLOMAS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
All the documents required to prove the effectiveness of the diplomas obtained and the professional experience acquired
must be provided. They will enable the examining body to assess the admissibility of the application with regard to the
the qualifications and experience required by the regulations in force (decree of 12 December 2000, as amended
setting out the qualifications and professional experience required under article R. 413-5 of the Environment Code
l’environnement for the issue of the certificate of competence for the care of animals of non-domestic species).
These documents are described below:
METHODS FOR ACQUIRING SKILLS
These elements will be presented in the form of a dated and complete curriculum vitae, accompanied by documents justifying the
statements made. In the case of an application to extend a certificate of competence, the following must be attached to the application
copies of certificates of competence already held by the applicant.
❑Initial training relating to animal biology and husbandry
Applicants must specify which diplomas they hold and attach copies.
❑Internships, experience in animal husbandry
Applicants must describe their experience, whether in the form of work placements, associations or personal experience of breeding, etc
personal breeding experience, etc. They must specify the species, duration and location of the experience. It should
attach the corresponding training certificates, in particular, for non-professional breeding establishments
training certificates issued by recognised national associations.
❑Participation in associative or professional activities relating to animals or the
protection of nature
The applicant must describe his or her voluntary or salaried activities within animal or nature associations
associations. He/she will attach the corresponding certificates (copy of membership card, etc.).
❑Bibliography and other means of enhancing knowledge
Applicants may list reference works (and other means of enhancing their knowledge, such as visits to establishments, seminars, etc.)
such as visits to establishments, meetings with people competent in the field of wildlife
etc.) that they have used in the course of their professional or personal training.
III. THE APPLICANT’S PROJECT: DESCRIPTION OF THE FACILITIES AND
OPERATING CONDITIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT
The description of the applicant’s project (or of the structure and operation of the existing establishment in the case of
regularisation of an irregular situation) enables the investigating department and the members of the Commission
nature, landscapes and sites to assess the applicant’s competence and the credibility of the project in relation to
credibility of the project in terms of the regulatory and physiological requirements of the animals.
The project must be presented differently depending on whether the applicant is :
– regularising his or her situation as a manager carrying out the functions mentioned in an existing establishment ;
– taking on new duties as a person responsible for the care of animals of non-domestic species in an existing establishment; or
existing establishment ;
– to set up an establishment in which he will be responsible for animals of non-domestic species;
– a project in principle designed to obtain a certificate of competence for the possible future exercise of the functions of
caring for animals of non-domestic species.
In the case of an existing establishment, the applicant should endeavour to :
– describe the characteristics and operation of the establishment ;
– highlight the aspects which, in their opinion, need to be improved;
– propose the solutions it envisages in the event that it becomes responsible for the animals of non
species within this establishment.
The information to be included in the application file is listed below.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT(2)
❑ Company name
❑Address of the place of detention (if different from that of the applicant)
❑Trade register number
❑Date of opening
❑Date of commencement of work in the establishment
❑Surface area of establishment
❑Species or groups of non-domestic species held (scientific and vernacular names) and number of specimens
of each species held
III.1 ASPECTS SPECIFIC TO ANIMAL CARE (ZOOTECHNICS)
For each species or group of species kept and maintained under the same conditions, the following must be specified in the dossier
the following information(3) :
A – NON-DOMESTIC SPECIES OR GROUP OF SPECIES
❑Scientific name(s) of species or group of non-domestic species
❑ Intended cohabitation of different species: specify which species
❑Mode of social organisation, behavioural characteristics
❑Potential danger to humans
❑Possible conservation actions: specify which ones
B – ANIMAL HOUSING FACILITIES
❑ General plan of the facilities, situating them in their environment (in relation to third parties and other personal activities)
activities)
❑Nature of the fixed installation: enclosure, cage, aviary, terrarium, pond, aquarium
❑Dimensions (length, width, height)
❑Density of animals
❑Facility wall materials
❑Nature of soil
❑Additional barriers or other means of preventing contact between people and animals
❑Heating (type and desired temperatures)
❑Artificial lighting
❑Ventilation system
❑Hygrometry levels
❑Facility interior layout: environmental enrichment methods
❑Capture and restraint equipment
❑Quarantine room: specify its particular features
C – FEEDING
❑Feed
❑Fish
❑Vitamin and mineral supplements
❑Frequency and times of distribution and replacement
❑Other possible diet particularities and precautions
D – REPRODUCTION
❑Age of sexual maturity
❑ Breeding season
❑Sexual dimorphism
❑Means of controlling reproduction
E – DISEASE PREVENTION
❑Main diseases of the species or group of species
❑Sanitary measures for the introduction of animals
❑Permanent health measures
❑Veterinary assistance (name, address) (2)
❑Medical prophylactic measures
❑Other measures
F -HYGIENE MEASURES
❑Cleaning and disinfection (methods, frequency, products)
III.2. GENERAL ASPECTS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT’S OPERATION
A – REGULATIONS
❑Regulatory texts in force
❑Legal status of non-domestic species and practical consequences
❑Extract from the register (2)
The applicant may attach to his application any documents (photographs, additional plans) that he
consider useful.
(1) To draw up the lists of species or groups of species in the application, the following taxonomy works should be used
reference works should be used:
– For mammals: Mammal Species of the World by Wilson and Reeder, 2005 edition;
– For birds: The Howard and Moore complete Checklist of the Birds of the World by Howard and Moore, 2003 edition.
For other groups of species, the bibliographical references of the taxonomic works used should be specified.
(2) To be specified only if the establishment already exists.
(3) In the case of an application to extend a certificate of competence, these details need only be provided for
only for the species for which the applicant wishes to extend the certificate and not for the species
for which the certificate of competence has already been issued