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Keeping or training animals for exhibition
The new Animal Welfare (Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 require all those who keep animals to train or exhibit, to hold a licence with the local authority.
Licence applications
The relevant local authority will be the one that covers the area of the applicant’s premises where the majority of the applicant’s licensable activities happen.
New licence applications
Local authorities should aim to issue a decision on an application within 10 weeks of receiving a new licence application. It is possible that the process can take longer, for example, if further information is needed from the applicant or if it’s difficult to arrange the inspection. However, we will look to determine each application within 10 weeks wherever possible.
A new application and fee may be required from the applicant, if the application is held up due to insufficient information provided, to determine compliance with the licence conditions.
Licence renewal applications
East Suffolk Council will write to each licence holder that to inform them that they need to renew their licence 3 months before it is due to expire.
The licence holder must apply to renew a licence at least 10 weeks before their current licence expires. This is to avoid incurring a break in the licensable activity, if they wish to continue to operate.
What sort of animals/exhibits does this include?
You are deemed to require a licence if you keep or train animals for exhibition in the course of a business for educational or entertainment purposes, to any audience attending in person, or by recording visual images of them.
This new Regulation will include:
- temporary exhibits of animals (e.g. reindeer or other animals)
- mobile animal exhibits (visiting schools/ private parties/ weddings/ fairs etc.)
- falconry displays
- pony parties (where the horses/ ponies are NOT ridden)
- exhibiting domestic animals in a circus (Wild animals are licensed by Defra)
- any business based outside of England that brings in an animal for exhibition. (These businesses must apply to the first authority in which they will be performing or where the animals are to be kept for the duration of their stay).
How much does a licence cost?
If granted, all keeping or training animals for exhibition licences will be granted for 3 years, at which point the licensee must reapply if they wish to continue trading.
You must be able to meet all the conditions of the licence and therefore you are encouraged to read the guidance document produced by DEFRA.
How long does the licence last for?
The licence will be issued for three years, and will be issued only once an inspection has been undertaken by the Local Authority. The Officer will be checking to ensure that the applicant meets the requirements of the Animal Welfare (Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, and the subsequent government guidance. It is therefore advised that applicants read through this document thoroughly to ensure that they comply.