Checking the reliability of traders in trades requiring monitoring

For the following trades, the trade authority must check the reliability of the trader immediately after the business registration or re-registration has been submitted:

• Purchase and sale (second-hand goods trade) of
  • high-quality consumer goods, in particular consumer electronics, computers, cameras, video cameras, carpets, fur and leather clothing
  • Motor vehicles and bicycles
  • Precious metals and alloys containing precious metals or corresponding goods
  • Gemstones, pearls and jewellery
  • Scrap metals
• Credit agencies, detective agencies
• Arrangement of marriages, partnerships and acquaintances
• Operation of travel agencies and accommodation services
• Locksmith services, distribution and installation of building security systems
• Production and distribution of special theft-related opening tools

• § Section 38 of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO)

• Certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority
  • for natural persons for the trader(s)
  • for partnerships for each managing partner
  • for legal entities for each legal representative
• Central trade register extract for submission to an authority
  • for natural persons for the trader(s)
  • for partnerships for each managing partner
  • for legal entities for each legal representative

Registration or re-registration of a trade requiring monitoring

1. register or re-register your business requiring monitoring.

2. apply for a certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority and information from the central trade register for submission to an authority and submit this to the trade authority.

3 The trade authority checks your reliability.

Gegen die behördliche Zuverlässigkeitsüberprüfung als solche besteht regelmäßig kein eigenständiger Rechtsbehelf, weil sie zunächst Teil der behördlichen Sachverhaltsermittlung ist. Gegen eine darauf gestützte belastende Maßnahme (z. B. Untersagung, Auflage oder Gebührenbescheid) kann der im jeweiligen Bescheid bezeichnete Rechtsbehelf – regelmäßig Widerspruch und anschließend Klage – eingelegt werden.

• Forms: none
• Written form required: no
• Personal appearance on site for application: no
• Online procedure possible: no

Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises Berlin (SenWiEnBe)

The trade licensing offices of the local authorities, independent municipalities, association municipalities, co-administrating municipalities, co-administered municipalities and independent cities are responsible, Section 1 (1) of the Ordinance on Responsibilities in Trade Law (Trade Law Responsibility Ordinance - GewRZV).

• You can find the responsible trade authority on the website Behördenfinder Deutschland