If you keep or train animals for exhibition, you may need an animal activity licence. To obtain a licence, you need to ensure that you meet the specific licence conditions.
Do I need a licence?
You will need a licence if you are:
- A business which keeps animals for exhibition, either for entertainment or educational purposes. This includes mobile animal exhibits that visit schools, weddings, private parties, fairs and other events where an audience is present
- Running pony parties where the ponies are not ridden.
- A business which keep animals for exhibition via electronic media, for example, animals used in films or TV
- A business which trains animals for exhibition, either to an audience or via electronic media
- Exhibiting domestic animals in a circus.
- 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.
For further guidance visit GOV.UK (external link).
Anyone carrying out this activity without the relevant licence could be prosecuted and face imprisonment of up to 6 months, receive a fine or both.
Fees
To find out how much your animal activity licence will cost, see:
How to apply
- Pay the relevant fee online - do this BEFORE you apply
- Complete the application form - you will need to add your payment receipt number to your completed application
- Complete the inspection form
- The following documents must be produced with the application form. Failure to produce these documents within 7 days of submitting your application will result in it being returned and any fees paid refunded:
- A completed inspection form (this shows how you are complying with and / or will comply with the relevant conditions)
- Operating procedures (these should cover the following):
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- Infection Control Procedure
- Feeding Regimes
- Cleaning Regimes
- Transportation
- Monitoring Health & Welfare
- The Death or Escape of an Animal
- Emergency Care Plan
- A plan of the premises
- Insurance Policy
- Risk Assessments (including a fire risk assessment)
- Qualifications (if any)
- Training policy / records.
- Submit the application and supporting documents via email to the licensing team or by post to the Licensing Team, PO Box 100, Wigan, WN1 3DS.
Please note: The licence, if granted, is non-transferrable should the premises / business be sold or taken over by another operator. If the licence holder dies, the personal representative of the licence holder can take on the licence provided that they inform the local authority within 28 days of the death that they are now the operators.
Inspections
We are required to carry out an inspection of all premises where licensable activities take place before we can approve an application.
As part of your inspection, you will be given a rating based on specific criteria.
What do I do if I already have a licence?
Before the expiry date of your licence, you will need to make an application for a licence under the new regulations.
You are advised to familiarise yourself with the new licence conditions to ensure you are able to comply with these before making a new application - see further guidance on complying with the new conditions (external link).
Public register
We maintain a public register of all the businesses which hold an animal activity licence, a copy of which is available below. This will be updated on a regular basis.