Freedom of information response

Activities licensed under the Animal Welfare

Publication date: 
Wednesday 24 April 2024
Request: 
  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.
  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: 
  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. None
  2. The names and addresses of those establishments.  N/A
  3. Details of how many of these licensed establishments exhibit (or have, or will, exhibit) rabbits. N/A
  4. Details of how many inspectors you have appointed under reg.4(2)(a) of the LAIA Regulations 2018. One
  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. Licensing Officer
  6. Contact details for that person/those people. licensing@thurrock.gov.uk
  7. Details regarding how often the establishments licensed under paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 to the LAIA Regulations 2018 are inspected. N/A
  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.  N/A
  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? None
  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”)? Three
  11. Details of how many of these licensed sellers sell rabbits? Three
  12. Details of how many of these licensed sellers sell only rabbits? None
  13. Details of how many of these licensed sellers are pet shops, and how many are private individuals? All three are pet shops
  14. Details of who is responsible for dealing with animal welfare complaints relating to these sellers (of any animals, not just rabbits)? Licensing Officer
  15. Contact details for that person/those people.  licensing@thurrock.gov.uk
  16. The criteria you use for determining whether the “business test” in paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the LAIA Regulations 2018 is met. The business test as laid out in the LAIA Regulations evidenced through details of purchases and sales and advertising
  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”.  We consider that a license is required where the business makes any sale or carries out the activity to make a profit as per the regulations.
  18. Whether you have a dedicated animal welfare officer/team? A Licensing Officer who leads on animal welfare but this forms part of a wider role and responsibilities
  19. If so, what their contact details are. licensing@thurrock.gov.uk
Request reference:
FOI 13664