Animal Dealer Registration Process for Breeders — Required Documents & Application Flow
Step-by-step guide to animal dealer registration: required documents and application process for beginners.
Key Takeaways
Step-by-step guide to animal dealer registration: required documents and application process for beginners.
To sell live animals as a breeder, registration as a "Type I Animal Handling Business" under the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals is required. Operating without registration can result in fines of up to 1 million yen. This article provides a step-by-step guide to the registration process, explained in beginner-friendly terms.
When Registration Is Required
Registration is required in the following cases.
Sales business: When breeding and selling live animals (breeder). This includes online sales. The requirement applies when sales are conducted on a repeated and ongoing basis.
Other business types: Pet boarding (storage), pet rental (lending), training (obedience schools), and exhibition (zoos, pet cafes) also require registration.
If you are only occasionally rehoming animals you keep as a hobby, registration may not be required. However, if you conduct ongoing sales regardless of scale, registration is necessary. When in doubt, consult your local government.
Registration Requirements
Appointing an Animal Handling Supervisor
Registration requires at least one "Animal Handling Supervisor" at each place of business. To qualify as a supervisor, you must meet at least one of the following requirements.
Qualification requirement: Hold a designated qualification such as Certified Animal Care Manager, Veterinary Nurse, Domestic Animal Manager, or Groomer.
Educational requirement: Have graduated from a university or vocational school where courses in animal physiology, behavior science, nutrition, or related subjects were completed.
Work experience requirement: Have at least six months of practical experience working under a registered Animal Handling Business operator.
In addition, completion of an Animal Handling Supervisor training course is required. Training sessions are held by each municipality, with attendance required at least once per year.