With about 300 species primates represent one of the largest animal groups within mammals. They are kept in zoological gardens, as laboratory animals or in private ownership. Against this background it is difficult to define all species-specific aspects of a primate husbandry. The paper describes the basic requirements for primates like nutrition, possibilities for social interactions and species specific behaviour, stimuli for activities, health care and environmental conditions. Although no definitive regulations exist by law, the Appendix A (Species-specific Provisions for Non-human Primates) of the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes (ETS 123) will be of great importance in the future.