Animal welfare licence old

If you have a business that involves animals you may need a licence.

The Animal Welfare Regulations came 2018, came into effect on 1 October 2018, they introduced a new licensing system in England for the following activities involving animals: 

Selling animals as pets 

Selling animals as pets (or with a view to their being later resold as pets) in the course of a business including keeping animals in the course of a business with a view to their being so sold or resold.

Providing for, or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats or dogs 

Providing or arranging for the provision of accommodation for other people’s cats or dogs in the course of a business on any premises where the provision of that accommodation is a purpose of the business by:

• providing boarding for cats;
• providing boarding in kennels for dogs 
• providing home boarding for dogs 
• providing day care for dogs

Hiring out horses for riding or instruction in riding 

Hiring out horses in the course of a business for either riding, instruction in riding, or both.

Dog breeding 

Breeding three or more litters of puppies in any 12-month period; or breeding dogs and advertising a business of selling dogs

Keeping or training animals for exhibition

Keeping or training animals for exhibition in the course of a business for educational or entertainment purposes, either to any audience attending in person, or by the recording of visual images of them by any form of technology, or both

The 2018 Regulation has also introduced the following:

• a one licence system, whereby each of the activities underlined above is considered to be a licensable activity, and an operator may apply for multiple licensable activities on the one licence.
• a new "Star Rating" scheme, ranging from one to five stars, assessed according to risk and welfare standards at the premises.
• licence periods of up to three years, linked to the star rating given to the premises.

Existing licence holders, and anyone planning to apply for a new licence should read the 2018 Regulation, and the statutory guidance notes to fully understand the obligations and duties under the new Regulations. To assist the trade, all of these documents are available within this guide.

Regulation

The Animal welfare (Licensing of activities involving animals) (England) regulations 2018.