# German Legislation Scraper — Gesetze (`ponderable_hydrometer/germany-legislation-scraper`) Actor Scrape German federal statutes from gesetze-im-internet.de — full text structured by paragraph (§), with law title and abbreviation. Free, no key. - **URL**: https://apify.com/ponderable\_hydrometer/germany-legislation-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Ponderable Hydrometer](https://apify.com/ponderable_hydrometer) (community) - **Categories:** Developer tools, Automation, SEO tools - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $4.00 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Germany Legislation Scraper — Gesetze im Internet **The entire German federal statute book (~6,000 laws) as structured data — from a light law index down to per-paragraph (§) full text.** Parsed from the official gesetze-im-internet.de XML (the DTD-defined norm structure), not scraped HTML. Keyless. Perfect for legal-tech, German-law datasets, research, RAG pipelines, and citation lookups (BGB, StGB, and every other federal law). ### What you get Two output granularities, chosen with `includeText`: - **Law mode** (default) — one row per law: `slug`, `doknr`, `abbreviation`, `officialAbbreviation`, `title`, `enactmentDate`, `url`, `normCount` - **Paragraph mode** (`includeText: true`) — one row per paragraph (§): `slug`, `abbreviation`, `lawTitle`, `enactmentDate`, `url`, `paragraph` (e.g. `§ 1`), `heading`, `text` ### How it works Reads the master index (`gii-toc.xml`, ~6,000 laws), then for each selected law downloads `{slug}/xml.zip`, unzips the XML and parses the norm structure. Filter the index by title/slug substring, or fetch specific laws by slug. ### Input | Field | Type | Default | Description | |-------|------|---------|-------------| | `search` | string | — | Filter the TOC by title/slug substring (ignored if `slugs` given) | | `slugs` | array | `["bgb"]` | Specific law slugs, e.g. `["bgb","stgb"]` (overrides `search`) | | `includeText` | boolean | `false` | One row per § with heading + text (else one row per law) | | `maxLaws` | integer | `50` | Cap on laws when searching the TOC (0 = all) | | `maxParagraphsPerLaw` | integer | `0` | Cap paragraphs per law when `includeText` (0 = all) | | `proxyConfiguration` | object | Apify Proxy on | Required — see Proxy note below | ### Example input ```json { "slugs": ["bgb"], "includeText": true } ```` Index of tax laws: ```json { "search": "steuer", "maxLaws": 100 } ``` ### Example output Law mode: ```json { "slug": "bgb", "doknr": "BJNR001950896", "abbreviation": "BGB", "officialAbbreviation": "BGB", "title": "Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch", "enactmentDate": "1896-08-18", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/", "normCount": 2782 } ``` Paragraph mode (`includeText: true`): ```json { "slug": "bgb", "abbreviation": "BGB", "lawTitle": "Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch", "enactmentDate": "1896-08-18", "url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/", "paragraph": "§ 1", "heading": "Beginn der Rechtsfähigkeit", "text": "Die Rechtsfähigkeit des Menschen beginnt mit der Vollendung der Geburt." } ``` ### Why this actor - **Two granularities from one actor** — a light index for discovery, or deep per-§ rows with full text. - **Structured, not scraped** — parsed from the official norm XML, so headings and § numbers are reliable. - **Whole statute book** — every German federal law by slug or substring search. - **Underserved niche** — near-zero competition for clean German legal data. ### Notes - **Proxy required:** gesetze-im-internet.de blocks Apify's datacenter egress, so the actor routes through **Apify Proxy** by default (`proxyConfiguration`, enabled automatically). Leave it as is — direct connections time out. - Public official data; you are responsible for compliant use. Not a government service. ### Pricing Pay per result — **$4 per 1,000 results** (one law, or one paragraph when `includeText` is on). No subscription or platform fees. ### Related actors - **UK Legislation Scraper** — UK primary and secondary legislation. - **Australia Legislation Scraper** — Commonwealth legislation. - **eCFR Scraper** — the US Code of Federal Regulations. # Actor input Schema ## `search` (type: `string`): Filter the master law index by title or slug substring, e.g. "Straßenverkehr" or "steuer". Ignored when specific slugs are given. ## `slugs` (type: `array`): Fetch specific laws by their gesetze-im-internet.de slug, e.g. \["bgb","stgb"]. Overrides the search. ## `includeText` (type: `boolean`): If true, output one row per paragraph (§) with its heading and full text. If false, one row per law (title, abbreviation, slug). ## `maxLaws` (type: `integer`): Cap on number of laws processed when searching the TOC (0 = no cap). ## `maxParagraphsPerLaw` (type: `integer`): When includeText is on, cap paragraphs emitted per law (0 = all). ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): The source host blocks Apify's datacenter IPs, so a proxy is required. Apify Proxy (automatic) is enabled by default — leave as is. ## Actor input object example ```json { "slugs": [ "bgb" ], "includeText": false, "maxLaws": 50, "maxParagraphsPerLaw": 0, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true } } ``` # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "slugs": [ "bgb" ], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true } }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("ponderable_hydrometer/germany-legislation-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "slugs": ["bgb"], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": True }, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("ponderable_hydrometer/germany-legislation-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "slugs": [ "bgb" ], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true } }' | apify call ponderable_hydrometer/germany-legislation-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=ponderable_hydrometer/germany-legislation-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "German Legislation Scraper — Gesetze", "description": "Scrape German federal statutes from gesetze-im-internet.de — full text structured by paragraph (§), with law title and abbreviation. Free, no key.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "okRb4WZCedaFS0gxA" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/ponderable_hydrometer~germany-legislation-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-ponderable_hydrometer-germany-legislation-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/ponderable_hydrometer~germany-legislation-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-ponderable_hydrometer-germany-legislation-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/ponderable_hydrometer~germany-legislation-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-ponderable_hydrometer-germany-legislation-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "search": { "title": "Search (TOC title/slug contains)", "type": "string", "description": "Filter the master law index by title or slug substring, e.g. \"Straßenverkehr\" or \"steuer\". Ignored when specific slugs are given." }, "slugs": { "title": "Specific law slugs", "type": "array", "description": "Fetch specific laws by their gesetze-im-internet.de slug, e.g. [\"bgb\",\"stgb\"]. Overrides the search.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "includeText": { "title": "Include paragraph (§) text", "type": "boolean", "description": "If true, output one row per paragraph (§) with its heading and full text. If false, one row per law (title, abbreviation, slug).", "default": false }, "maxLaws": { "title": "Max laws", "minimum": 0, "type": "integer", "description": "Cap on number of laws processed when searching the TOC (0 = no cap).", "default": 50 }, "maxParagraphsPerLaw": { "title": "Max paragraphs per law", "minimum": 0, "type": "integer", "description": "When includeText is on, cap paragraphs emitted per law (0 = all).", "default": 0 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy configuration", "type": "object", "description": "The source host blocks Apify's datacenter IPs, so a proxy is required. Apify Proxy (automatic) is enabled by default — leave as is.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": true } } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```