Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018
The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 is a set of regulations that provide for the licensing of persons involved in England in activities involving animals. These activities include:
- Selling animals as pets
- Providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs
- Hiring out horses
- Breeding dogs
- Keeping or training animals for exhibition
The regulations came into force on 1st October 2018 and set out the conditions and procedures for licensing these activities. They also detail the duties of local authorities in England to license these activities and the relevant establishments.
| Licensable activity | New regulations replace the following acts | Defra guidance notes |
|---|---|---|
| Selling animals as pets | Pet Animals Act 1951 |
|
| Providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats and dogs | Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 |
|
| Hiring out horses | Riding Establishments Acts 1964 and 1970 |
|
| Breeding dogs | Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 and Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999 |
|
| Keeping or training animals for exhibition | Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 |
|
Schedule 3
Schedule 3 of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 outlines the conditions for selling animals as pets in England.[2] It mandates the maintenance of a register for all animals or groups of fish on the premises, recording details like the animal’s age, date of birth, date of sale, and date of death (if applicable).[2] The licence holder and all staff are required to provide information and advice to the prospective owner on the appropriate care of the animal, including veterinary care.[2] They must also inform the purchaser of the country of origin, species, age, sex, and veterinary record of the animal being sold.[2] Advertisements for animal sales must include a recognisable photograph, the age, the country of residence, and the country of origin of the animal.[2]
See also
- Animal Welfare Act 2006
- Category: Animal law in the United Kingdom
- Newshound: Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018
- Animal Hub: Animal Law
External links
- The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 legislation.gov.uk
- BVA guide to the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 BVA