Approval as a preparation facility – why it is so important

Johannes Jander

Why accreditation as a preparation facility under TNP law is important – and why you shouldn't buy from unaccredited suppliers.

The taxidermy market is booming – unfortunately, so is its dark side: More and more private individuals and unlicensed vendors are offering skulls, pelts, or entire animals for sale. What many customers don't know or ignore is that selling animal products without official authorization is not a minor offense, but a crime – and for good reason.

What does TNP law actually regulate?

Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 governs the handling of so-called animal by-products – that is, everything that results from the death or processing of an animal and is not intended for human consumption: bones, hides, skulls, organs, etc.

These products may only be processed and sold by approved companies , provided the following conditions are met:

  • an official license as a preparation facility,
  • hygienically sound and suitable premises ,
  • Complete traceability of every animal,
  • as well as legally compliant disposal of all unusable residues.

🛠️ What an approved preparation facility must provide

At Hunti.Danti , we do our best not only to meet these requirements, but to implement them as conscientiously as possible – even though at the end of the day we are "only human." But that is precisely why we take our responsibility so seriously.

🔧 Premises & Hygiene

An approved taxidermy facility requires a dedicated room . This room must be fully washable, have stainless steel surfaces , a floor drain , a hot water connection , and refrigeration . We use this room exclusively for taxidermy and thoroughly clean it after each use with special cleaners and disinfectants to reliably eliminate germs, pathogens, and odors.

📋 Traceability & Documentation

Every delivery is precisely documented : Who brought the animal, where did it come from, and when was it handed over? This data is crucial in the event of an outbreak of disease – for example, African swine fever – in order to quickly and effectively remove affected products from circulation and dispose of them correctly.

Every processing step is also recorded : When was the animal quarantined? When was it meated, defatted, bleached, and further processed? This documentation is mandatory – and it also serves transparency for the regulatory authorities and our customers.

🧾 Cooperation with the veterinary office

The licensing of a taxidermy facility always takes place in close cooperation with the locally responsible veterinary office . The authority not only inspects the premises and procedures, but also checks the complete documentation, disposal methods, and hygiene measures. Unannounced inspections are also part of our daily operations – a matter of course for us.

🦴 Disposal obligation

Not all parts of an animal can be used. Remnants such as offal, skin, unusable tissue, or highly decomposed materials must be disposed of at the animal rendering plant at our expense – an additional expense that many unauthorized providers completely avoid.

⏳ Workload

From a delivered head to a finished, clean skull, it takes us at least five weeks . This process includes:

  • Quarantine period for observation,
  • biological fleshing,
  • Degreasing in special solutions,
  • careful bleaching,
  • and precise post-processing.

We don't do quick fixes – for us , craftsmanship, hygiene and quality are paramount.

⚖️ Commercial sales without a license are a criminal offense.

What many don't know (or deliberately ignore): The commercial sale of animals or their parts without official authorization is a criminal offense under German law.

  • According to Section 44 Paragraph 2 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), violations of the TNP or species protection law are punishable by imprisonment of up to 3 years – in particularly serious cases (e.g. commercial sale, repeat offenses) even up to 5 years imprisonment .
  • Even sales by private individuals (e.g. at flea markets or via classified ads) are not a grey area , but an administrative offense that can be punished with substantial fines .

🛑 Why you shouldn't buy from unauthorized vendors

  • You are supporting a crime if you buy from unauthorized dealers.
  • You may be committing a crime yourself if you knowingly or negligently purchase or resell prohibited products.
  • You are endangering your own health , as inadequate hygiene and a lack of quarantine measures can lead to germs or parasites.
  • You are harming businesses like ours that operate legally, comply with all regulations, and stand for quality, transparency, and responsibility.

✅ Why Hunti.Danti is the right place for you

When you buy from us, you can be sure of:

  • Our products come from legal, documented sources .
  • are processed carefully, hygienically and in accordance with the law ,
  • and we adhere to the strict requirements of an approved preparation facility .

We don't do this because it's easy – but because it's the right thing to do. Our work is n't a hobby , but a licensed trade with clear rules, regulations, and responsibilities – and that's exactly how it should be.

Taxidermy deserves respect – for the animal, the craft, and the law.
When you buy a product from us, you are not only choosing quality, but also a conscious, fair and legally sound approach.

List of sources:

📚 Legal basis & regulations

  1. Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009
    EU regulation on animal by-products not intended for human consumption
    → https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009R1069

  2. Animal By-Products Disposal Act (TierNebG)
    National implementation of EU regulations on the processing/disposal of animal by-products
    → https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/tiernebg/

  3. Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), in particular Section 44
    Prohibition on handling specially protected species – even dead
    → https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bnatschg_2009/__44.html

  4. Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG)
    Legal framework for the treatment of animals
    → https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/tierschg/

⚖️ Information sources on criminal offenses & fines

  1. Fine Catalogue.org – Animal & Species Protection
    Overview of penalties for illegal trade in protected species (e.g., garden snail, hornet, etc.)
    → https://www.bussgeldkatalog.org/artenschutz/
    → https://www.bussgeldkatalog.org/tierschutz-schnecken-muscheln/

  2. Federal Ministry for the Environment – ​​Trade restrictions under the Federal Nature Conservation Act
    Access and trade bans on protected species
    → https://www.bmuv.de/themen/natur-arten/arten/nationaler-artenschutz/instrumente/handelsbeschraenkungen

  3. Wikipedia – Poaching (for penalties for violations)
    → https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilderei

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