Licensing of activities Involving Animals Regulations 2018

From 1 October 2018 the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) 2018 comes into force. 

A “licensable activity” means one of the five activities involving animals, selling of animals as pets, providing for or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs (Including boarding in kennels or catteries, home boarding for dogs and day care for dogs), hiring out horses, dog breeding and keeping or training animals for exhibition.

Dangerous wild Animals and zoos are not affected.

The main changes are there will be one generic licence for all animal welfare premises.  A set of general conditions that apply to all licences and a set of  conditions that will apply to specific animal activity.  It will be necessary to comply with both sets of conditions.  Licences can be issued up to 3 years.  There is an introduction of a risk rating scheme (and scoring matrix) to determine if the business meets the minimum or high standards.  This will then dictate the length of the licence and the inspection regime.  Businesses will be able to appeal their star rating which will be on the new licence once issued.

DEFRA, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have produced guidance documents to help current or prospective licence holders understand what will be required from them under the new licensing regime.

Listed below are the links to the documents, and the codes of practices. For more information contact us(link sends e-mail).