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The mere suspicion of certain animal diseases must be reported to official veterinarians.

As a private or commercial livestock owner, you are obliged to report certain animal diseases. It is not only the outbreak (i.e. the detection of the disease by an official veterinarian) that must be reported, but also the mere suspicion of an outbreak.

If you suspect that an animal disease may have broken out, report this immediately by telephone or in person to the competent authority. You must also immediately take all possible measures to prevent the spread of the disease (e.g. stabling animals, separating "suspect" animals from others, ensuring that no animals leave the premises).

Once the suspicion has been reported, it is investigated by the competent authority. If it is indeed an animal disease, the necessary countermeasures (e.g. quarantine) will be taken in the individual case.

Which animal diseases are notifiable animal diseases is regulated in the Ordinance on Notifiable Animal Diseases.

In addition to notifiable animal diseases, there are other animal diseases that are not controlled by the state, but whose occurrence is officially recorded.
A list of notifiable animal diseases can be found on the "Animal diseases" overview page of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

The following information is required when reporting an animal disease or suspected animal disease:

• What disease is suspected or what symptoms are occurring?
• Species, number and location of the animals.
• Owner of the animals.
• Have measures already been taken? If so, which ones?
• Have animals been bought or sold?

According to the Animal Diseases Act, compensation can be granted by the Animal Diseases Fund for livestock losses caused by animal diseases. However, this is subject to the condition that the epidemic report has been submitted immediately and the number of animals kept (horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, poultry) has been reported to the animal epidemic fund and the contribution has been paid.

To the veterinary offices (official veterinarians) of the districts or independent cities.