The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 Schedule 7 covers keeping or training animals for exhibition. 

You may need a licence if you keep or train animals for exhibition as part of a commercial business. Examples can include animal displays, mobile animal encounters, educational visits, falconry displays, reptile encounters, animal handling experiences and certain pony party businesses where the animals are exhibited rather than ridden.

This licence is different from licences for boarding, dog breeding, pet sales and hiring out horses. Businesses should make sure they apply under the correct animal activity category.

Before you apply

Before making an application, please read the statutory guidance and prepare the policies, procedures and records relevant to your exhibition activity.

• read the keeping or training animals for exhibition statutory guidance
• consider using our checklist for keeping or training animals for exhibition to self audit that you have all required policies or procedures
• prepare written procedures covering animal welfare, transport, disease control, cleaning, emergencies and public safety
• prepare records for all animals used in the activity
• ensure veterinary arrangements are in place
• review risk assessments relating to contact between animals and members of the public
• make sure staff training records are available for inspection
• review safeguarding and supervision arrangements where children may interact with animals

Apply for a licence

Use our animal welfare licence application form to apply. The application does not currently have a save draft function, so you should have the information and documents you need ready before starting the application.

We aim to determine new licence applications within 10 weeks of receiving a complete application. Some applications may take longer where further information is needed or where an inspection is difficult to arrange. Existing licence holders should apply to renew at least 10 weeks before the current licence expires.

Apply for Animal Welfare Licence

Inspection

An inspection will be carried out as part of both grant and renewal applications. Applicants should audit themselves against the statutory guidance before inspection and make use of the our exhibition animal checklist.

The inspection may consider animal welfare arrangements, housing and accommodation, transportation arrangements, veterinary arrangements, animal identification records, disease prevention and biosecurity, supervision of public interactions, public safety and risk management procedures, and staff competence and training.

Guidance and useful information

Checklists, templates and records

Exhibition animal documents

• Checklist for keeping or training animals for exhibition
• Animal register
• Event attendance records
• Animal transport procedures
• Cleaning and disinfection procedures
• Public interaction risk assessments
• Emergency evacuation procedures
• Disease control procedures

Standard documents required by most licence holders

• Preventative healthcare plan template and guidance notes 
• Medication record
• Training policy and staff training record
• Isolation facilities template letter to be completed by veterinary practice 
• Nominated veterinary practice form

Key exhibition licence rules to highlight

• animals used for exhibition must be suitable and fit for the activity
• records must be maintained and available for inspection
• records must generally be retained for at least three years
• suitable accommodation, transport and handling arrangements must be provided
• adequate disease prevention and control procedures must be in place
• staff must be competent and appropriately trained
• animals must not be exposed to avoidable stress, injury or suffering
• public interaction must be properly managed and supervised
• risk assessments should be completed where members of the public may have contact with animals
• appropriate veterinary arrangements must be maintained

Public interaction and biosecurity

Many exhibition businesses involve direct interaction between animals and members of the public. Operators should consider hand washing facilities, infection control measures, suitable supervision, animal welfare during handling sessions and restrictions on contact where welfare may be compromised.

Businesses should refer to HSE guidance relating to visitor attractions, open farms and public animal contact where relevant.

Zoonoses and infection control

Zoonoses are infections that can pass between animals and humans. Exhibition businesses should consider zoonoses as part of their infection control procedures. We suggest that you examine the list on the Zoonoses - HSE page and consider all those infections relevant to your business. Particular care should be taken where multiple species are exhibited or where animals have direct contact with members of the public.

We would encourage you to also read The Industry Code of Practice on Preventing or Controlling Ill Health from Animal Contact at Visitor Attractions which suggests practical measures that you can put in place at your premises.

Fees, star ratings and licence duration

Fees are payable for the grant and renewal of licences, variations and other associated processes. Animal activity licences are subject to the statutory star rating system. Depending on the star rating awarded, licences may be granted for one, two or three years. New applicants will generally receive an initial one-year licence because there is no previous compliance history available.

If you are unsure whether you need a licence

If you are unsure whether your activity requires a licence for keeping or training animals for exhibition, please contact the Licensing team before making an application. We can advise whether the activity appears to fall within the licensing regime or whether another licence category may be more appropriate.