Taxidermy rules (preparing and preserving animals)

Are you a taxidermist and do you want to preserve dead animals in the Netherlands? Then you must comply with the rules on taxidermy. The rules that apply depend on the type of animal you want to preserve.  

Bird taxidermy

Many bird species are protected, and you are not allowed to possess or preserve them. You can only preserve them in the following cases:

Preservation of bred birds

You are allowed to preserve bred birds. No specific conditions apply to the preservation of bred birds and birds born in captivity. 

Preservation of wild birds

Wild birds are protected by the EU Birds Directive. Under the Dutch Environment and Planning Act, transport and possession of wild birds is prohibited. You can only preserve these birds if you comply with a number of conditions (in Dutch). The most important ones are:

• The bird died in the wild and was not killed intentionally by the person who found it.
• You (the taxidermist) do not sell the preserved bird.
• You attach a unique identification mark (in Dutch) to the bird as soon as possible. You can order the unique identification mark (in Dutch) at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
• Within 3 days of finding or receiving the dead bird, you must report the dead bird to RVO (in Dutch). 

Taxidermy of other animals

The following rules apply to the preservation of other animals, such as mammals or reptiles: 

Bred animals

No conditions apply to the preservation of bred animals that are not protected, such as pets or pet farm animals. You are allowed to preserve them.  

Wild animals

Do you want to preserve wild animals that live in the EU? You may have to apply for an environment and planning permit via the Environment and Planning Portal (in Dutch). You need a permit to possess and preserve the animal. This obligation applies to animals listed in:

• Annex IV to the EU Habitats Directive
• Annex II to the Berne Convention
• Annex I to the Bonn Convention

To get a permit, you must comply with specific conditions. For example, the purpose of the preservation must be science or education. You will not get a permit if that purpose can be achieved in another way. Check all conditions for receiving an environment and planning permit for a flora and fauna activity (in Dutch).

Protected wild animals in the Netherlands

Some animals are protected in the Netherlands. You are not allowed to possess these animals, which include:

• pine marten
• polecat
• fallow deer
• red deer
• hare
• ermine
• rabbit
• roe deer
• fox
• weasel
• wild boar 

These are the animal species listed in Annex IX, section A of the Environmental Activities Decree (Besluit activiteiten leefomgeving, Bal, in Dutch). Possession of these animals is prohibited, but you may get an exemption, for example, if:

• the animal was killed or captured by someone with a permit to do so (permitted conservation management or damage control), or
• the animal died in the wild, and the person who found the dead animal did not kil the animal intentionally. 

In these cases, you do not need a taxidermy permit for dead, wild animals.  

CITES documents

CITES is a convention that protects endangered species of wild fauna and flora against international trade. If the species that you want to preserve is protected under CITES, you need CITES documents (in Dutch):

• If someone provides  you with a dead animal or skin, they must give you a CITES document.
• If you sell an animal that you have preserved, you must request a CITES document and give it to the buyer.

You can apply for CITES documents to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO, in Dutch).

Taxidermist registration

If you are a taxidermist and preserve animals for commercial purposes, you must register your company with the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA, in Dutch).