Laboratory animal transport enforcement, Sequani Ledbury
Case reference FOI2026/02281
Received 23 September 2026
Published 14 October 2026
Request
I am making a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 concerning local-authority enforcement of animal welfare-in-transport legislation in relation to laboratory animals transported to or from:
Sequani Limited
Bromyard Road
Ledbury
Herefordshire
HR8 1LH
APHA has confirmed to me that the primary responsibility for enforcement of welfare-in-transport legislation rests with local authorities, including routine welfare checks on animals and their means of transport.
For the period 1 January 2024 to the present, please provide:
1. The number of welfare-in-transport inspections, vehicle inspections, roadside checks, arrival/departure checks or other compliance checks carried out in connection with animals transported to or from Sequani.
2. Copies of inspection reports, compliance records, officer notes, warning/advisory letters and enforcement records arising from those checks.
3. Records of complaints, referrals or intelligence received concerning transport of dogs or other laboratory animals to or from Sequani, with personal details of complainants redacted.
4. Records identifying any commercial transporter inspected, checked or investigated in connection with those movements, including records containing the name “Impex” where held.
5. Records showing whether transport documentation was examined, including documentation recording origin/ownership, place and time of departure, intended destination and expected journey duration.
6. Records concerning vehicle hygiene, cleaning, disinfection or biosecurity where vehicles were used for laboratory animals.
7. Any records concerning use of the same vehicle for different species, including dogs and non-human primates.
8. Substantive correspondence between Herefordshire Council and APHA, the Home Office, Sequani or a transporter concerning welfare-in-transport compliance involving the Ledbury establishment.
9. Records of any enforcement action, improvement requirement, caution, prosecution, referral or formal advice issued in connection with animal transport to or from the site.
10. If no inspection or enforcement activity has taken place in relation to laboratory-animal transport at this site during the requested period, please confirm that explicitly.
I am not requesting information that would identify planned future animal movements, routes or other security-sensitive operational details.
Response
I am making a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 concerning local-authority enforcement of animal welfare-in-transport legislation in relation to laboratory animals transported to or from:
Sequani Limited
Bromyard Road
Ledbury
Herefordshire
HR8 1LH
APHA has confirmed to me that the primary responsibility for enforcement of welfare-in-transport legislation rests with local authorities, including routine welfare checks on animals and their means of transport.
For the period 1 January 2024 to the present, please provide:
1. The number of welfare-in-transport inspections, vehicle inspections, roadside checks, arrival/departure checks or other compliance checks carried out in connection with animals transported to or from Sequani.
Answer: 0.
2. Copies of inspection reports, compliance records, officer notes, warning/advisory letters and enforcement records arising from those checks.
Answer: 0 records.
3. Records of complaints, referrals or intelligence received concerning transport of dogs or other laboratory animals to or from Sequani, with personal details of complainants redacted.
Answer: 0 Records.
4. Records identifying any commercial transporter inspected, checked or investigated in connection with those movements, including records containing the name “Impex” where held.
Answer: 0 Records.
5. Records showing whether transport documentation was examined, including documentation recording origin/ownership, place and time of departure, intended destination and expected journey duration.
Answer: 0 Records.
6. Records concerning vehicle hygiene, cleaning, disinfection or biosecurity where vehicles were used for laboratory animals.
Answer: 0 Records.
7. Any records concerning use of the same vehicle for different species, including dogs and non-human primates.
Answer: 0 records.
8. Substantive correspondence between Herefordshire Council and APHA, the Home Office, Sequani or a transporter concerning welfare-in-transport compliance involving the Ledbury establishment.
Answer: 0 correspondence.
9. Records of any enforcement action, improvement requirement, caution, prosecution, referral or formal advice issued in connection with animal transport to or from the site.
Answer: 0 records.
10. If no inspection or enforcement activity has taken place in relation to laboratory-animal transport at this site during the requested period, please confirm that explicitly.
Answer: The service area has advised that no inspections or enforcement have taken place for animals transported or in transport by Sequani.(or the transporters they contract to deliver animals to or from the site)
Herefordshire Council Animal Health & Welfare Officers do have a duty to inspect animal transporters and will often inspect transporters at markets, shows, and farms.
The officers also carry out random roadside checks with the Police and other council departments. During these checks all vans, animal transporters, waste carriers, or plant carrying vehicles are stopped. Roadside checks are carried out to ensure compliance with relevant legislation.
Please note, Health & Welfare Officers have no power to stop vehicles in motion this must be done by the Police which makes these operations dependant on where and when the Police can safely set up a roadside checkpoint.
If a transporter from Sequani were to be stopped during one of these operations, then they would be subject to the same checks and requirements as every other transporter.
I am not requesting information that would identify planned future animal movements, routes or other security-sensitive operational details.
Documents
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