Are Roof Rats Legal in Greece? Keeping, Breeding & Selling

Keeping / owning   Legal

Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-10

Law 4830/2021 Art. 2(3) defines a ‘companion animal’ (ζώο συντροφιάς) as any animal kept in the home for affection OR any animal listed in EU Reg. 2016/429 Annex I; Annex I Part B expressly includes ‘rodents… other than those intended for food production,’ so captive-bred R. rattus kept as a pet falls squarely within it. No Greek statute, decree, or ministerial decision prohibits keeping it; PD 67/1981 protects NATIVE wild fauna and R. rattus is introduced (Red Data Book ‘Least Concern’), not protected, and absent from the Habitats/Birds Directive annexes the law uses to define ‘protected wild fauna.’ The ‘wild fauna cannot be kept as companion animals’ clause targets indigenous/CITES/protected wildlife (e.g., native tortoises, raptors), not a captive-bred rodent of a genus already kept as a pet (cf. R. norvegicus sold openly). Private rodent owners are also exempt from the microchip/National Companion Animal Registry (EMZS) rules that apply to dogs, cats, and ferrets.

Sources: Hellenic Parliament / Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ Α 169/2021), European Union (EUR-Lex), Hellenic Republic (referenced via Univ. of Athens Zoological Museum / Red Data Book), European Union (EUR-Lex)

Breeding   Legal

Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-10

Private, non-commercial (hobbyist) reproduction of pet rodents is unregulated. Law 4830/2021 Art. 8’s amateur-breeding cap (max two breeding females, one litter/year, prior club/registry authorization) is by its own text limited EXCLUSIVELY to ‘female dogs or female cats’ (θηλυκούς σκύλους ή θηλυκές γάτες), by expressio unius the legislature excluded rodents, so a hobby roof-rat colony faces no quota, registry, or municipal permit. COMMERCIAL breeding (reproducing R. rattus to sell offspring for profit) crosses into the licensed pet-trade tier: Art. 8(1) requires the business to operate under Art. 3 of Law 4711/2020 with an operational licence from the Regional Directorate of Agricultural Economy & Veterinary Medicine (ΔΑΟΚ), facility/welfare inspections, and EU Reg. 2019/2035 traceability. So: legal (hobby), a lawful no-permit pathway exists, with commercial breeding requiring a licence.

Sources: Hellenic Parliament / Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ Α 169/2021), Hellenic Parliament / Government Gazette (via NAWS legislation index), Greek Government (transposing Dir. 92/65/EEC), European Union (EUR-Lex)

Selling or giving away   Legal

Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-10

Private, non-commercial gifting or rehoming between individuals (no profit, or merely covering vet costs) is entirely unregulated, no transfer form, municipal notification, or microchip protocol applies to rodents (unlike dogs/cats). COMMERCIAL retail sale requires a registered pet-shop or breeder licence and compliance with Law 4830/2021 Art. 8 + PD 184/1996; Art. 8’s pet-shop window-display ban is limited to dogs and cats, so rodents may lawfully be displayed and sold in licensed shops. Online commercial sellers must include breeder-registration details. In practice R. rattus is essentially absent from Greek retail (market demand/reputation), not because the species is banned. So: legal (private transfer) with commercial sale requiring the standard pet-trade licence.

Sources: Hellenic Parliament / Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ Α 169/2021), Greek Government (transposing Dir. 92/65/EEC), Hellenic Parliament / Government Gazette (via NAWS legislation index)

Transport & import   Restricted

Confidence: High · Last verified 2026-06-10

Movement of a pet roof rat INTO Greece is lawful but documented, it is NOT certificate-free even intra-EU and owner-accompanied (correcting the preliminary read). EU Reg. 576/2013 leaves rodents (Annex I Part B) to national rules, and Greece’s Ministry Circular 3382/100752/17.09.2015 requires that reptiles, rodents, and rabbits entering Greece be accompanied by an official veterinary declaration (κτηνιατρική βεβαίωση) from an authorized vet in the country of origin certifying the animal is clinically examined, healthy, free of contagious disease and external parasites, and fit to travel. To stay ‘non-commercial’ the animal must be owner-accompanied, ≤5 animals total, not for sale, with transit within five days of the owner’s travel. COMMERCIAL/third-country movement (≥6 animals or for sale) is a veterinary consignment: intra-EU under the Balai Directive 92/65/EEC (PD 184/1996) via TRACES with an Intra-Trade Animal Health Certificate; third-country imports must clear an approved Border Inspection Post (Συνοριακός Σταθμός Ελέγχου) with third-country health certificates. A lawful pathway exists at every tier, so transport is restricted (documentation/permit), not prohibited. Never release.

Sources: European Union (EUR-Lex), Ministry of Rural Development & Food (ΥΠΑΑΤ), General Directorate of Veterinary Services, Greek Government (transposing Dir. 92/65/EEC)

• Keeping / hobby breeding / free rehoming: nothing required
• Commercial breeding: operational licence from the Regional Directorate of Agricultural Economy & Veterinary Medicine (ΔΑΟΚ) under Law 4830/2021 Art. 8(1) + Law 4711/2020 Art. 3; facility/welfare inspection; EU Reg. 2019/2035 traceability
• Commercial sale: registered pet-shop or breeder licence + veterinary welfare compliance (Law 4830/2021 Art. 8; PD 184/1996)

Where: Regional Directorate of Agricultural Economy & Veterinary Medicine (ΔΑΟΚ) of the relevant Regional Unit; Ministry of Rural Development & Food (ΥΠΑΑΤ) for veterinary oversight · Fees: Set by the licensing authority

Source: Hellenic Parliament / Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ Α 169/2021), Hellenic Parliament / Government Gazette (via NAWS legislation index), Greek Government (transposing Dir. 92/65/EEC)

• Non-commercial entry (≤5, owner-accompanied): obtain the origin-country veterinary declaration within ~48-72h of travel; carry proof of owner travel (transit within 5 days)
• Commercial / ≥6 animals (intra-EU): register in TRACES; obtain an Intra-Trade Animal Health Certificate (Balai Dir. 92/65/EEC / PD 184/1996); consign to a registered Greek entity
• Third-country import: enter via an approved Border Inspection Post (Συνοριακός Σταθμός Ελέγχου) with third-country veterinary health certificates; documentary/identity/physical checks

Forms: Veterinary declaration (κτηνιατρική βεβαίωση), origin-country official/authorized vet · Where: Origin-country official/authorized veterinarian (declaration); Greek Border Inspection Post + TRACES for commercial/third-country; Ministry of Rural Development & Food (ΥΠΑΑΤ) Animal Health Directorate for guidance

Source: Ministry of Rural Development & Food (ΥΠΑΑΤ), General Directorate of Veterinary Services, European Union (EUR-Lex), Greek Government (transposing Dir. 92/65/EEC)

Source: Hellenic Parliament / Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ Α 169/2021)