Animal Health Act 1981
What this means for your business
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 32 compliance obligations, 11 practical guides
What you must do
32 compliance obligations under this legislation — 28 can result in imprisonment.
Inspections 1
Allow inspector access and cooperate with sheep scab examinations
If an inspector appointed by the Minister (or a local‑authority inspector authorised by order) comes to your farm to check sheep for scab, you must help them. This means following any reasonable directions to gather, pen and provide access to the sheep and giving any other facilities they need for the examination.
Management duties 1
Follow published bio‑security guidance before handling animals
If you run a farm, keep animals on your premises or have any official role under the Animal Health Act, you must only carry out your activities when the relevant bio‑security guidance has been formally issued and is still in force, and you must act in line with that guidance. Ignoring the guidance means you are acting without legal authority and the breach can be used as evidence in any legal proceedings.
Other requirements 1
Serve Animal Health Act notices in writing and by approved methods
If your business needs to issue a notice under the Animal Health Act (or any order or regulation made under it), you must do so in writing. The notice can be delivered personally, left at the recipient’s last known address or place of business, or sent by post. Using any other method may render the notice invalid.
Payments and fees 1
Repay local authority costs for burial of animal carcasses washed from your vessel
If an animal carcass washes ashore from your ship and the local authority has to bury or destroy it, you must reimburse the expenses they incurred. The authority can demand payment and you must pay the amount they spent.
Offences and prohibitions 28
Alter or falsify animal health licence
6 months imprisonmentIf you knowingly change, falsify, pre‑date or copy a licence, declaration, certificate or similar document issued under the Animal Health Act, or if you present such a doctored document knowing it is false, you commit a criminal offence. The offence applies to anyone who deals with these documents, including businesses that hold animal‑health licences. Conviction can lead to a fine and/or imprisonment, but the exact penalties are not set out in the excerpt provided.
Breach animal disqualification order
6 months imprisonmentIf a court has disqualified you from activities such as owning, dealing in, transporting or working with animals, and you carry out any of those activities anyway, you commit a criminal offence. Breaching the order can lead to further prosecution and additional sanctions, on top of any penalties that applied to the original animal‑health offence.
Breach licence conditions for animal gatherings
six months imprisonmentIf you hold a licence for an animal gathering in Scotland and you break any condition of that licence – for example, failing to follow disease‑prevention measures – you commit a criminal offence. The offence applies even if you think you have a reason for the breach; the burden is on you to prove a valid excuse. Conviction can lead to an unlimited fine and, in some cases, imprisonment.
Commit an offence under the Animal Health Act 1981
6 months imprisonmentIf you or your business carry out an act that breaches the Animal Health Act 1981, you may be committing a criminal offence. The exact conduct that is prohibited and the penalties (fines, imprisonment and how the case is tried) are set out in the full text of section 36F, so you will need to check the legislation or seek legal advice to know what you must avoid.
Deliberately infect an animal with a listed disease
2 years imprisonmentIf you knowingly cause, or intend to cause, an animal to become infected with a disease listed in Schedule 2A and you have no lawful authority or excuse, you commit a criminal offence. On summary conviction you can be sent to prison for up to six months, fined up to the statutory maximum, or both. On conviction on indictment the maximum penalty rises to two years’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.
Deliberately infect or retain animals infected with a listed disease
2 years imprisonmentIf you knowingly or recklessly cause an animal or bird to catch a disease listed in Schedule 2B, or if you acquire or keep an animal, carcass or related material that you know (or should reasonably know) is infected, you commit a criminal offence. On conviction you face up to six months’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine in a summary (Magistrates’) Court, or up to two years’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine in the Crown Court.
Fail to comply with a bio‑security code
6 months imprisonmentIf you own, keep or are responsible for animals that are covered by a Scottish bio‑security code, you must follow the requirements set out in that code. Failing to do so, without a lawful excuse, is a criminal offence. A conviction could lead to a fine and/or imprisonment, depending on how the offence is later sentenced.
Fail to comply with Animal Health Act requirements
6 months imprisonmentIf you do anything that breaches the Animal Health Act, an order made under it, a regulation, or a local authority rule – or if you do not provide a notice, licence, or other requirement the Act imposes – you commit a criminal offence. Conviction can lead to an unlimited fine and, depending on the seriousness, possible imprisonment. This applies to any person or business dealing with animals, farms, or related activities.
Fail to comply with animal health information request or give false information
6 months imprisonmentIf you are asked by the Minister or a veterinary inspector to provide information about an animal with a disease (or a carrier) and you either do not comply with that request, or you deliberately give false information, you commit a criminal offence. Conviction can lead to a fine and/or imprisonment, depending on the court’s decision.
Fail to comply with licence conditions or sell illegal veterinary substances
2 months imprisonmentIf you manufacture, import or sell a veterinary therapeutic substance without the required licence, breach the conditions of a licence, or sell a substance you know was made or imported against a legal order, you commit a criminal offence. On summary conviction you face a fine up to £1,000; on a second or further conviction you can be fined again or sent to prison for up to two months, plus any goods involved will be forfeited and your licence may be revoked or suspended.
Fail to give assistance to veterinary inspector
6 months imprisonmentIf a veterinary inspector enters your premises and formally asks you to help – for example by allowing samples to be taken or providing information – you must comply. Refusing or not providing the assistance is a criminal offence. Conviction can lead to a fine and/or imprisonment, with the exact penalties set out elsewhere in the Animal Health Act.
Fail to provide water to animals for 24 hours
6 months imprisonmentIf an animal being transported by rail goes without water for a continuous 24‑hour period, both the consignor and the person responsible for the animal commit a criminal offence. The burden of proof is on the accused to show that a water request was made and that water was supplied within the required time.
Fail to separate diseased animals or give notice of disease
6 months imprisonmentIf you have an animal that is affected by a disease you must, as far as practicable, keep it away from healthy animals and inform a police constable as quickly as possible. Failing to do either – without a lawful excuse – is a criminal offence under the Animal Health Act 1981.
Falsely obtain animal health licence
6 months imprisonmentIf you lie or give false information to obtain a licence, certificate or other instrument under the Animal Health Act – or obtain it by deception – you commit a criminal offence. You must be able to prove you had no knowledge of the falsehood and could not have discovered it with reasonable diligence to avoid liability. A conviction can lead to a fine (potentially unlimited) and/or imprisonment.
Import animals or products that could transmit rabies
12 months imprisonmentIf you bring into Great Britain any animal, animal product or related item that could introduce rabies – as defined by a specific order made under the Act – you commit a criminal offence. On summary conviction you face a fine up to the statutory maximum; on indictment you can be fined and/or sent to prison for up to 12 months.
Import, land or move animals contrary to rabies control orders
6 months imprisonmentIf you bring an animal into Great Britain – for example by landing, importing through the Channel Tunnel, or moving it on a vessel – in breach of a rabies‑prevention order, you commit a criminal offence. The same applies if you move an animal into, within or out of an area that has been declared infected with rabies contrary to an order. Conviction can lead to a fine and/or imprisonment, so you must ensure all rabies‑related orders are fully complied with.
Import or export prohibited animal via Channel Tunnel
6 months imprisonmentIf you land, ship or try to move an animal or other thing through the Channel Tunnel and that breaches the Animal Health Act or a ministerial order, you will be treated as if you had broken customs law on prohibited imports or exports. You will face the same penalties as anyone caught importing or exporting prohibited goods, which can include an unlimited fine and possible imprisonment.
Issue false animal health licence or certificate
6 months imprisonmentIf you issue a licence, certificate or other document that is false in any material detail, or you issue one without having lawful authority to do so, you commit an offence under the Animal Health Act 1981. A conviction can lead to a fine (potentially unlimited) and, depending on the court, may also carry a term of imprisonment. This applies to anyone who grants or issues such licences, including businesses that act as licensing authorities.
Issue or use a blank animal licence
6 months imprisonmentIf you knowingly issue a licence, certificate or other authorising document for moving animals that is left blank (i.e. it does not specify the particular animal or activity) with the intention of getting around the Animal Health Act, you commit an offence. It is also an offence to use, offer or try to use such a blank licence unless you can prove you did not know it was blank and could not have discovered it with reasonable diligence.
Make false statement to obtain eradication funds
3 months imprisonmentIf you knowingly or recklessly lie to get money that is payable under section 3 of the Animal Health Act (for example, claiming costs for disease eradication that you are not entitled to), you commit a criminal offence. On summary conviction you could be fined up to £1,000, sent to prison for up to three months, or receive both penalties.
Operate without a required animal health licence
6 months imprisonmentIf you carry out any activity that the Animal Health Act says needs a licence – for example keeping certain animals or moving livestock – but you do not have a licence, you continue after the licence has expired, or you use a document that is not a genuine licence, you commit a criminal offence. The offence requires proof you intended to evade the law. Conviction can lead to a fine and/or imprisonment, and the case may be heard in either a Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court.
Refuse entry to or obstruct animal health inspector
6 months imprisonmentIf you deny an authorised animal health inspector access to your premises, block or impede their work, help others to do so, or fail to give required assistance, you commit a criminal offence. Conviction can result in an unlimited fine and possible imprisonment, and the case can be heard in either a Magistrates’ Court or a Crown Court.
Refuse or obstruct animal health inspector
6 months imprisonmentIf you block, refuse to let in, or otherwise hinder an inspector or other officer who is carrying out their duties under the Animal Health Act, you commit a criminal offence. This applies to anyone who controls or occupies land, buildings, pens, vessels, aircraft or any other place the inspector is entitled to examine. Conviction can lead to fines, imprisonment or both, depending on how the courts categorize the offence.
Refuse to give assistance to animal health inspector
6 months imprisonmentIf an animal health inspector asks you to help with treating animals, to let them enter premises, or to otherwise assist them and you refuse, you commit an offence. A conviction can lead to a fine, imprisonment or both, but the Act does not set exact limits – the court will decide the appropriate penalty.
Sell livestock subject to a restriction notice
6 months imprisonmentIf you sell or otherwise transfer livestock, semen, eggs or embryos that are covered by a restriction notice, you commit a criminal offence. The offence applies even if the notice is under review. Conviction can lead to a fine, imprisonment or both.
Throw diseased carcass in water or dig up a buried carcass
6 months imprisonmentIf you or your staff dispose of a dead animal that died of a notifiable disease by throwing it into a river, stream, canal, navigation or the sea within 4.8 km of the shore, or if you dig up a carcass that has been buried under the direction of a minister, local authority or wreck receiver, you commit a criminal offence. Conviction can lead to a fine and/or imprisonment.
Unauthorised disposal of animal carcasses into water
6 months imprisonmentIf you or anyone acting for you throws, places or allows the carcass of an animal, bird or amphibian (or any material derived from it) to be dumped into a river, stream, canal, other waterway or the sea within 4.8 km of the shore, without proper authority, you commit a criminal offence. This applies to any business or individual handling such material.
Use of prohibited vehicle or premises for moving animals
6 months imprisonmentIf a ministerial order bans a particular vessel, aircraft, vehicle, pen or other place from being used to transport animals, and you use it anyway without lawful authority, you commit an offence. This can affect farms, livestock transport firms and anyone moving animals. Conviction can lead to a fine and/or imprisonment, but the exact maximum penalties are set elsewhere in the Act.
Penalties for non-compliance
28 penalties under this legislation. 28 can result in imprisonment. 26 carry an unlimited fine.
Alter or falsify animal health licence
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Breach animal disqualification order
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Breach licence conditions for animal gatherings
Unlimited fine and/or six months imprisonment
Commit an offence under the Animal Health Act 1981
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Deliberately infect an animal with a listed disease
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Deliberately infect or retain animals infected with a listed disease
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment
Fail to comply with a bio‑security code
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Fail to comply with Animal Health Act requirements
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Fail to comply with animal health information request or give false information
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Fail to give assistance to veterinary inspector
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Fail to provide water to animals for 24 hours
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Fail to separate diseased animals or give notice of disease
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Falsely obtain animal health licence
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Import animals or products that could transmit rabies
Unlimited fine and/or 12 months imprisonment
Import, land or move animals contrary to rabies control orders
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Import or export prohibited animal via Channel Tunnel
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Issue false animal health licence or certificate
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Issue or use a blank animal licence
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Operate without a required animal health licence
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Refuse entry to or obstruct animal health inspector
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Refuse or obstruct animal health inspector
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Refuse to give assistance to animal health inspector
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Sell livestock subject to a restriction notice
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Throw diseased carcass in water or dig up a buried carcass
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Unauthorised disposal of animal carcasses into water
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Use of prohibited vehicle or premises for moving animals
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months imprisonment
Fail to comply with licence conditions or sell illegal veterinary substances
Fine up to £1,000 and/or 2 months imprisonment
Make false statement to obtain eradication funds
Fine up to £1,000 and/or 3 months imprisonment
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Sector-Specific 11
Comply with livestock movement standstill periods
Legal requirements for standstill periods after livestock arrive on your holding. Covers standstill lengths by species, exemptions, and …
Prepare for farm inspections and audits
How to prepare for regulatory inspections and farm assurance audits. Covers which bodies inspect farms, what triggers inspections, …
Identify and tag livestock correctly
Legal requirements for identifying and tagging cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer. Includes species-specific tagging deadlines, tag specifications, …
Report livestock movements and comply with standstill rules
How to report cattle, sheep, goat, pig, and deer movements using government traceability systems. Includes reporting deadlines, standstill …
Keep holding registers for livestock
Legal requirements for recording livestock identification, movements, births, deaths, and annual inventories. Covers cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and …
Recognise and report notifiable animal diseases
How to identify signs of notifiable diseases in livestock and report suspected cases to APHA. Covers bovine TB, …
Understand farm rules after cross-compliance ended
What environmental, animal health, and land management rules still apply to farms now that cross-compliance has ended. Explains …
Register land to keep livestock
How to obtain a County Parish Holding (CPH) number before keeping cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, or poultry. Includes …
Navigate farm assurance schemes
Comparison of major UK farm assurance schemes including Red Tractor, RSPCA Assured, Soil Association Organic, and LEAF Marque. …
Meet sheep welfare requirements on your farm
How to meet your legal obligations for sheep welfare in the UK. Covers the Five Welfare Needs, housing …
Meet bovine TB testing requirements for cattle
Comprehensive guide to bovine TB testing requirements for UK cattle farmers. Covers testing frequency by risk area (HRA, …
Sections and provisions
175 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 16
- s.6B Biosecurity compliance failure
- s.10A Annual review of import controls
- s.14B Duty to consider vaccination
- s.14 Prevention of sheep scab. sheep
- s.26 Pleuro-pneumonia or foot-and-mouth disease found in transit. order under this section
- s.32F Disease control (slaughter) statement: Scotland
- s.36V Compensation
- s.52 Inspectors and other officers. local authority
- s.54 Provision of wharves etc.
- s.57 Burial of carcases washed ashore.
- s.80 Yearly return to Parliament.
- s.81 Reports to Minister.
- s.82 Information from Agricultural Marketing Boards.
- s.83 Form and service of instruments.
- s.85 Exemption from stamp duty. stamp duty
- s.93 Communications to and from Northern Ireland. order of the Minister
Offences and penalties 32
- Schedule 4 Additional Provisions as to Food and Water at Railway Stations
- s.4 Offences as to s. 3.
- s.6C Biosecurity codes: Scotland
- s.8A Animal gatherings: Scotland
- s.8 Movement generally.
- s.15 Separation and notice.
- s.16 Treatment after exposure to infection.
- s.28A Deliberate infection
- s.28F Deliberate infection: disqualification orders
- s.28C Deliberate infection: Scotland
- s.30 Provisions supplemental to s. 29.
- s.35 Seizure and disposal of carcases etc.
- s.36J Offences
- s.36S Offences
- s.36F Offences
- s.36ZA Seizure of carcases etc. : further provision for Scotland
- s.61 Powers of arrest as to rabies. Powers of entry and search in relation to rabies offences
- s.62F Tests and samples: supplementary
- s.66 Refusal and obstruction.
- s.66A Refusal and obstruction of inspector
- ... and 12 more offences and penalties
Powers 52
- s.2 Local authority regulations.
- Schedule 3 Power to Slaughter in Relation to Certain Diseases
- s.6 Eradication areas and attested areas.
- s.6A Biosecurity guidance
- s.7 Cleansing and disinfection.
- s.9 Prohibition in specific cases.
- s.11 Export to member States.
- s.13 Orders as to dogs.
- s.14A National contingency plan
- s.16A Slaughter of vaccinated animals
- s.18 Other provisions as to infected places and areas.
- s.19 Destruction of foxes etc. on rabies infection.
- s.20 Additional provisions under s. 17 on rabies infection.
- s.21 Destruction of wild life on infection other than rabies.
- s.23 Orders as to infected places and areas.
- s.24 Rabies: quarantine and virus control.
- s.25 Movement of diseased or suspected animals.
- s.28E Deliberate infection: deprivation orders
- s.28B Deliberate infection: disqualification
- s.28 Seizure of diseased or suspected animals.
- ... and 32 more powers
Definitions 28
- s.1 General powers of Ministers to make orders.
- s.3 Expenditure for eradication.
- s.5 Veterinary services and therapeutic substances.
- s.6E Tests and samples: Scotland inspector
- s.6F Samples: further testing
- s.10 Importation.
- s.12 Export quarantine stations.
- s.17 Powers as to infected places and areas.
- s.22 Powers of entry etc. for s. 21.
- s.27 Exclusion of strangers. animals
- s.28G Seizure orders where disqualification breached inspector
- s.36X Interpretation inspector livestock TSE
- s.36Q Review
- s.36M Interpretation
- s.36P Restrictions on breeding
- s.49 Enforcement and interpretation.
- s.50 Local authorities for purposes of this Act. local authority
- s.53 Borrowing powers.
- s.55 Power to acquire land.
- s.56 Public facilities for sheep dipping.
- ... and 8 more definitions
Exemptions 9
- s.6D Emergency biosecurity orders: Scotland
- s.16B Slaughter of treated animals: Scotland
- s.28D Deliberate infection: deprivation of entitlement to compensation
- s.28I Specified diseases: Scotland
- s.32 Slaughter in other diseases.
- s.36R Scottish Ministers' powers of enforcement
- s.36ZB Compensation for seizure
- s.91 Orders etc.
- Schedule 3A Power of slaughter for preventing spread of disease: Scotland
Legislative context
- SI Cattle Identification Regulations 2007 (2007)