Activities licensed under the Animal Welfare LAA Regulations 2018
Case reference FOI2024/00098
Published 19 January 2024
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am therefore writing to request the following information:
1. The number of licences (current only) you have issued under paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018 (LAIA Regulations 2018) (this being the licensable activity of "Keeping or training animals for exhibition") to farm parks, petting zoos, city farms or any other set-ups/establishments where animals are exhibited to the public.
2. The names and addresses of those establishments.
3. Details of how many of these licensed establishments exhibit (or have, or will, exhibit) rabbits.
4. Details of how many inspectors you have appointed under reg.4(2)(a) of the LAIA Regulations 2018.
5. Details of who is responsible for dealing with animal welfare complaints relating to farm park, petting zoos and other such establishments in your area.
6. Contact details for that person/those people.
7. Details regarding how often the establishments licensed under paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to the LAIA Regulations 2018 are inspected.
8. What guidance the inspectors appointed under regulation 4(2)(a) of the LAIA Regulations 2018 are given as to how they are to establish that the welfare needs of the rabbits they are inspecting are being met by the farm park, petting zoo etc. (For example, are they given a copy of the Good Practice Code for the Welfare of Rabbits - https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Rabbit-CoP-July-2023.pdf?)
9. The number of licences (issued at all times since the LAIA Regulations 2018 came into force) under paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to the LAIA Regulations 2018 have been suspended or revoked under the powers in regulation 15, and why?
10. The number of licences (current only) you have issued under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the LAIA Regulations 2018 (this being the licensable activity of "Selling animals as pets")?
11. Details of how many of these licensed sellers sell rabbits?
12. Details of how many of these licensed sellers sell only rabbits?
13. Details of how many of these licensed sellers are pet shops, and how many are private individuals?
14. Details of who is responsible for dealing with animal welfare complaints relating to these sellers (of any animals, not just rabbits)?
15. Contact details for that person/those people.
16. The criteria you use for determining whether the "business test" in paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the LAIA Regulations 2018 is met.
17. The level of income the sellers licensed under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the LAIA Regulations 2018 need in order to be deemed to be selling animals "in the course of a business".
18. Whether you have a dedicated animal welfare officer/team?
19. If so, what their contact details are.
Response
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am therefore writing to request the following information:
1. The number of licences (current only) you have issued under paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations 2018 (LAIA Regulations 2018) (this being the licensable activity of "Keeping or training animals for exhibition") to farm parks, petting zoos, city farms or any other set-ups/establishments where animals are exhibited to the public.
A) 9
2. The names and addresses of those establishments.
A)
Angel's Animal Ark, Sunny Bank, Mordiford, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR1 4LP
Avena's Goat Adventures, Instone Court, Munderfield, Bromyard, Herefordshire, HR7 4JS
Hereford Community Farm C.I.C., 75 Breinton Road, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR4 0JY
KC Equine Trust T/A KC Riding, Brick House Farm, Bowley Lane, Bodenham, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR1 3LG
Old King Street Farm Ltd, Old King Street Farm, Ewyas Harold, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR2 0HB
Roaming Reptiles, Unit 3, Cropper Row, Ross-On-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 5LA
Trevor Hill Birds and Animals, 5 Netherwood Cottages, Stoke Bliss, Tenbury Wells, Herefordshire, WR15 8RT
Wye Valley Falconry, Samarkel, 129 Kings Acre Road, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR4 0SP
Yatton Farm Park Ltd, Lower Yatton Farm, Yatton, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 9TL
3. Details of how many of these licensed establishments exhibit (or have, or will, exhibit) rabbits.
A) 2
4. Details of how many inspectors you have appointed under reg.4(2)(a) of the LAIA Regulations 2018.
A) 2
5. Details of who is responsible for dealing with animal welfare complaints relating to farm park, petting zoos and other such establishments in your area.
A) It would depend on the nature of the complaint, but would either be the appointed Licensing inspectors or an officer from Animal Health & Welfare.
6. Contact details for that person/those people.
A) We ask that reports are made either by calling 01432 261761 or emailing licensing@herefordshire.gov.uk
7. Details regarding how often the establishments licensed under paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to the LAIA Regulations 2018 are inspected.
A) As per the regulations, the premises is inspected prior to granting a licence, upon receipt of a renewal application or if a complaint was received that required an inspection.
8. What guidance the inspectors appointed under regulation 4(2)(a) of the LAIA Regulations 2018 are given as to how they are to establish that the welfare needs of the rabbits they are inspecting are being met by the farm park, petting zoo etc. (For example, are they given a copy of the Good Practice Code for the Welfare of Rabbits - https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Rabbit-CoP-July-2023.pdf?)
A) Guidance as issued by DEFRA contained in the LAIA Regulations 2018.
9. The number of licences (issued at all times since the LAIA Regulations 2018 came into force) under paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to the LAIA Regulations 2018 have been suspended or revoked under the powers in regulation 15, and why?
A) 0
10. The number of licences (current only) you have issued under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the LAIA Regulations 2018 (this being the licensable activity of "Selling animals as pets")?
A) 4
11. Details of how many of these licensed sellers sell rabbits?
A) 1
12. Details of how many of these licensed sellers sell only rabbits?
A) 0
13. Details of how many of these licensed sellers are pet shops, and how many are private individuals?
A) The 1 premises selling rabbits is a pet shop.
14. Details of who is responsible for dealing with animal welfare complaints relating to these sellers (of any animals, not just rabbits)?
A) Please see the response to Q5 above.
15. Contact details for that person/those people.
A) Please see the response to Q6 above.
16. The criteria you use for determining whether the "business test" in paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the LAIA Regulations 2018 is met.
A) As per the guidance issued to Local Authorities, which is publically available on the gov.uk website and can be viewed via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/animal-activities-licensing-guidance-for-local-authorities
17. The level of income the sellers licensed under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the LAIA Regulations 2018 need in order to be deemed to be selling animals "in the course of a business".
A) The guidance indicates as per the HMRC 9 badges of business that £1,000 is the income deemed by HMRC.
18. Whether you have a dedicated animal welfare officer/team?
A) Yes.
19. If so, what their contact details are.
A) Telephone 01432 261761 or email ethehelpline@herefordshire.gov.uk
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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