- Made under
- Animal Welfare Act 2006
- Enforced by
- DEFRA
- Status
- In Force
- Penalty ceiling
- Prosecution 1 of 61 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 60 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Does it bind you?
Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.
Plus 11 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.
Other Acts binding the same actors
If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.
Licence Holder — also bound by 225 other Acts
Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts
Operator — also bound by 746 other Acts
What it requires
Regulations creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
49 of 119 shownOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must apply the 'business test' to animal activitiesLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority must consider profit motive when determining business activity for animal licensingLocal authority
- Comply with general animal welfare licensing conditionsLicence Holder
- Display your animal activities licence prominently on premises and websiteLicence Holder
- Have a written emergency plan and keep animals safeAny Person
- Keep records available for inspection for at least three yearsLicence Holder
- Only use animals specified in licence and keep numbers reasonableLicence Holder
- Provide sufficient competent staff and written training policyLicence Holder
- Provide a safe, species-appropriate environment for all animalsLicence Holder
- Provide suitable diet and drinking water for animalsLicence Holder
- Monitor animal behaviour, provide enrichment and exercise, and train humanelyLicence Holder
- Protect animals from pain, suffering, injury and diseaseLicence Holder
- Maintain a sales register and follow pet advertising rulesLicence Holder
- Keep animal records, label sick animals, and include licence details in advertsLicence Holder
- Provide prospective animal owners with proper care information and adviceLicence Holder
- Keep animals in accommodation that minimises stress and is secureLicence Holder
- Ensure animals for sale are healthy and transported safelyLicence Holder
- Implement a vet-approved preventative healthcare plan for boarded dogsLicence Holder
- Provide a suitable environment for each boarded dogAny Person
- Provide safe equipment, daily exercise, and mental stimulation for dogsLicence Holder
- Get written consent to house dogs together and manage interactionsLicence Holder
- Keep detailed records of all dogs and ensure dogs wear ID tagsLicence Holder
- Clean equipment before admitting dogs and implement a preventative healthcare planLicence Holder
- Provide a suitable environment for all cats in your careLicence Holder
- Do not keep any dog on the premises overnightLicence Holder
- Screen dogs before admission and ensure safe equipment and toysLicence Holder
- Maintain a register of dogs and provide identification when off premisesLicence Holder
- Supervise dogs, implement vet health plan, minimise travel timeLicence Holder
- Protect boarding cats from pain, suffering, injury and diseaseLicence Holder
- Provide a suitable environment for dogs in kennelsLicence Holder
- Provide safe toys, enrichment, exercise and hiding areas for dogsLicence Holder
- Maintain welfare, insurance, and safety standards for hiring out horsesLicence Holder
- Hold relevant qualifications/experience and public liability insurance for hiring out horsesLicence Holder
- Must not leave animal activities unsupervised by under-18sLicence Holder
- Keep horses healthy, fit, and suitable for hired workLicence Holder
- Ensure equipment provided to clients is safe and available for inspectionLicence Holder
- Comply with dog breeding, sales, and welfare standardsLicence Holder
- Comply with rules for advertising and selling dogsLicence Holder
- Provide suitable environment for breeding dogsLicence Holder
- Implement a socialisation programme and care for puppies and dogsLicence Holder
- Provide proper housing conditions for dogs, including social contact and handlingLicence Holder
- Ensure health and welfare of dogs and comply with breeding and record-keeping rulesLicence Holder
- Comply with licensing conditions for exhibiting or training animalsLicence Holder
- Hold valid public liability insurance for animal exhibition activitiesLicence Holder
- Provide suitable temporary accommodation for exhibited animalsLicence Holder
- Train animals using positive reinforcement with competent staffLicence Holder
- Manage animal welfare during exhibitions to prevent stress, aggression and harmOperator
- Keep a record of all animals used for exhibition and notify local authority of changesLicence Holder
- Protect exhibited animals from pain, suffering, injury and diseaseLicence Holder
70 other schedules
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must inspect premises and decide on licence applicationsLocal authority
- Assist inspectors with animal identification and samplingOperator
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority must appoint a vet for annual horse hiring inspectionsLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority must arrange and submit an inspector's reportLocal authority
- Notify the local authority of a licence holder's deathAny Person
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities may charge fees for animal activity licensingLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must follow government guidance on animal licensingLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority must follow strict procedures to suspend or vary a licenceLocal authority
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority must reinstate a suspended licence once issues are fixedLocal authority
Unlimited fine
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority must provide formal notice when revoking a licenceLocal authority
- Do not obstruct animal welfare inspectorsAny Person
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must report licensing data to the Secretary of StateLocal authority
17 other provisions
Help complying
Guvnor’s practical routes through this instrument.
Start a retail business - compliance essentials
A comprehensive compliance onboarding journey for new retailers. Covers consumer rights, pricing law, age-restricted sales, product safety, data protection, accessibility duties, and …
Run a retail business
Ongoing compliance and operational guidance for established retail businesses
Diversify your farm business
Explore farm diversification opportunities - farm shops, holiday accommodation, renewable energy, equestrian facilities, event spaces, and rural business units
2 more guides that reference this instrument
Connected legislation
The wider family of instruments made under the same parent Act.
Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.