Opening and close-down of a surgery or private animal hospital have to be notified to the district administrative authority and the Österreichische Tierärztekammer (Austrian Veterinary Chamber) in advance, in any case within two weeks. Only authorized practitioners or companies, which belong to authorised practitioners to at least 50 % are entitled to operate a surgery or private animal hospital.

Only self-employed veterinarians and veterinary companys are entitled to operate a surgery or private animal hospital.

Veterinary companies must either

• be founded by self-employed veterinarians or
• the majority of shares and voting rights must be held by veterinarians with professional qualifications or
• at least 50 % of the company shares and voting rights are held by veterinarians who are entitled to exercise their profession, and the prerequisite for comprehensive quality assurance (structural, process and result quality) is guaranteed by the establishment of a commission with regard to the management of a surgery or a private veterinary clinic.

Holding shares of a company of veterinary practitioners by persons with a different professional background is only allowed if they hold shares as dormant partners where branch offices are foreseen when establishing a limited liability company it has to be ensured that the management responsibility lies with one member only who is entitled to manage one branch office only and holds an integral part of shares of the company.

Veterinarians who manage a surgery or private animal hospital are obliged to keep it in a condition which complies with hygiene standards and veterinary demand and to identify it by appropriate outward designation befitting their profession.

Notification has to be given to the competent authorities in advance, but in any case within two weeks.

Competence for the procedure lies with:

• the locally competent district administrative authority and
• the Österreichische Tierärztekammer (Austrian Veterinary Chamber)

A letter has to be addressed to the locally competent district administrative authority and the Österreichische Tierärztekammer (Austrian Veterinary Chamber) containing the abovementioned information.

No additional documents are required.

There are no fees or charges foreseen for the notification.

Austrian Veterinary Chamber ( → ÖTK)

sections 2, 16 to 18 Tierärztegesetz

I have noted that the data provided by me, as well as any data received by the administration over the course of the preliminary investigation, will be automatically processed as per article 6, para. 1 lit. c and e of the General Data Protection Regulation in accordance with the underlying material laws of the legal process. Furthermore, I am aware that this is for the purpose of executing the legal procedure initiated by me, the granting of regulatory approval and also for the purpose of review. I have read the general information regarding: 

• the right to access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, withdrawal and objection, as well as on data portability
• the right to lodge a complaint with the Austrian data protection authority
• the responsibilities of the process controller and the data protection officer as per https://datenschutz.stmk.gv.at.

Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection

1 January 2024