Brennmerking: the law by country
Where it is banned, allowed only under conditions or permitted. Each rule names its law and links to the source.
- Forbudt: 5 places
- Begrenset: 2 places
- Tillatt: 2 places
Belgia
Brussels Capital
Myndigheten opplyser at jernmerking er forbudt for å identifisere hester, til fordel for mikrochip. Myndighetens side datert 5. mai 2020.
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The agency states that iron branding is banned for identifying horses, in favour of microchips. Agency page dated 5 May 2020.
Law of 14 August 1986, as stated by Bruxelles EnvironnementChecked 4. nov. 2026
Canada
Whole country
National Farm Animal Care Council Code of Practice: en bransjekode, ikke en lov. NFACC sier at kodens krav ikke uttrykkelig er bindende i de fleste provinser, men kan være bevis for lidelse. Provinsenes lovgivning viser til den: vedtatt i NL (NLR 36/12; NLR 35/12 s.15 gjør en praksis som koden forbyr til en forbudt praksis), foreskrevet i SK (Reg 1 s.3-4), nevnt som forsvar i NB (Reg 2000-4 s.4(2), Sch A) og BC (B.C. Reg. 34/2019, som allment akseptert praksis), akseptert i NS (Act s.28(b)). Kjøttfe: bare når det kreves for eksport, etter policy eller som eierbevis, av opplært personell; ikke på vått storfe. Melkekyr må ikke brennmerkes.
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National Farm Animal Care Council Code of Practice: an industry code, not a statute. NFACC says Code requirements are not explicitly binding in most provinces but can be evidence of distress. Referred to in provincial law: adopted in NL (NLR 36/12; NLR 35/12 s.15 makes a practice a code prohibits a prohibited one), prescribed in SK (Reg 1 s.3-4), named as a defence in NB (Reg 2000-4 s.4(2), Sch A) and BC (B.C. Reg. 34/2019, as generally accepted practice), accepted in NS (Act s.28(b)). Beef: only when required for export, by policy or as proof of ownership, by trained personnel; not on wet cattle. Dairy cattle must not be branded.
NFACC Code of Practice: Beef Cattle (2013), s.4.3; Dairy Cattle (2023), s.4.2.1 (industry codes, not statutes)Checked 4. nov. 2026
New Zealand
Whole country
Ingen kan varmmerke et dyr. Det midlertidige unntaket for hester, ponnier og esler (r 55M) ble opphevet 2026-05-09, så det finnes ikke lenger noe unntak. Bot inntil NZ$5,000 (juridisk person NZ$25,000).
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Nobody may hot brand an animal. The temporary exception for horses, ponies and donkeys (r 55M) was revoked on 2026-05-09, so no exception remains. Fine up to NZ$5,000 (body corporate NZ$25,000).
Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018, rr 55L, 55MIn force since 9. mai 2021Checked 4. nov. 2026
Polen
Whole country
Å merke varmblodsdyr ved brenning er nevnt som dyremishandling, med mindre det er en prosedyre loven tillater.
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Marking warm-blooded animals by burning is named as cruelty, unless a procedure allowed by law.
Ustawa o ochronie zwierząt (21 August 1997), art. 6(2)(1), as amended by Dz.U. 2011 poz. 1373Checked 4. nov. 2026
Storbritannia
England
Oppført som identifikasjonsmetode for hester; ingen særskilt betingelse i Sch. 7.
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Listed as an identification method for horses; no specific condition in Sch. 7.
SI 2007/1100, Sch. 1In force since 6. apr. 2007Checked 4. nov. 2026
Ikke oppført blant identifikasjonsmetodene for storfe, som omfatter frysemerking.
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Not listed among the identification methods for cattle, which include freeze branding.
Animal Welfare Act 2006, s.5; SI 2007/1100, Sch. 1In force since 6. apr. 2007Checked 4. nov. 2026
Scotland
Forskriftene fra 2010 viderefører ikke bestemmelsen fra 2007 om varmmerking av hestedyr, og det finnes ingen tillatelser.
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The 2010 Regulations do not re-enact the 2007 hot-branding provision for equines, and no authorisations exist.
Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, s.20; Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (SSI 2010/387)In force since 5. nov. 2010Checked 4. nov. 2026
Wales
Oppført identifikasjonsmetode; ingen særskilt betingelse i Sch. 7.
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Listed identification method; no specific condition in Sch. 7.
WSI 2007/1029, Sch. 1In force since 28. mars 2007Checked 4. nov. 2026
Tsjekkia
Whole country
Å merke hester ved brenning er unntatt fra bedøvelsesregelen når det gjøres av en kvalifisert person. Teksten er lest i en juridisk forlags kopi av Act 246/1992 Sb. (sist endret 1. april 2025), ikke i den offisielle samlingen.
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Marking horses by branding is excepted from the anaesthesia rule when done by a qualified person. Text read on a legal publisher's copy of Act 246/1992 Sb. (last amended 1 April 2025), not the official collection.
Act 246/1992 Sb., s.7(3)(h)Checked 4. nov. 2026
What each status means
- Forbudt
- Prohibited outright.
- Begrenset
- Allowed with conditions other than a vet: an age limit, a method, a licence.
- Tillatt
- Allowed.
The law on other procedures
- Kupering av ører
- Halekupering
- Halekupering (husdyr)
- Fjerning av ulveklør
- Fjerning av hornanlegg
- Avhorning
- Kloamputasjon (onykektomi)
- Devokalisering (fjerning av stemmebånd)
- Nebbtrimming
- Vingeamputasjon
- Tannklipping
- Mulesing
- Fjerning av kam og hakelapper
- Fjerning av sporer
- Innsetting av nesering
- Frysemerking
- Innsnitt i halen (reising)