Animal Welfare Act 2006

1. Introductory Text

2. Introductory

   1. 1. Animals to which the Act applies

   2. 2. “Protected animal”

   3. 3. Responsibility for animals

3. Prevention of harm

   1. 4. Unnecessary suffering

   2. 5. Mutilation

   3. 6. Docking of dogs' tails

   4. 7. Administration of poisons etc.

   5. 8. Fighting etc.

4. Promotion of welfare

   1. 9. Duty of person responsible for animal to ensure welfare

   2. 10. Improvement notices

   3. 11. Transfer of animals by way of sale or prize to persons under 16

   4. 12. Regulations to promote welfare

5. Licensing and registration

   1. 13. Licensing or registration of activities involving animals

6. Codes of practice

   1. 14. Codes of practice

   2. 15. Making and approval of codes of practice: England

   3. 16. Making of codes of practice: Wales

   4. 17. Revocation of codes of practice

7. Animals in distress

   1. 18. Powers in relation to animals in distress

   2. 19. Power of entry for section 18 purposes

   3. 20. Orders in relation to animals taken under section 18(5)

   4. 21. Orders under section 20: appeals

8. Enforcement powers

   1. 22. Seizure of animals involved in fighting offences

   2. 23. Entry and search under warrant in connection with offences

   3. 24. Entry for purposes of arrest

   4. 25. Inspection of records required to be kept by holder of licence

   5. 26. Inspection in connection with licences

   6. 27. Inspection in connection with registration

   7. 28. Inspection of farm premises

   8. 29. Inspection relating to assimilated law

9. Prosecutions

   1. 30. Power of local authority to prosecute offences

   2. 31. Time limits for prosecutions

10. Post-conviction powers

    1. 32. Imprisonment or fine

    2. 33. Deprivation

    3. 34. Disqualification

    4. 35. Seizure of animals in connection with disqualification

    5. 36. Section 35: supplementary

    6. 37. Destruction in the interests of the animal

    7. 38. Destruction of animals involved in fighting offences

    8. 39. Reimbursement of expenses relating to animals involved in fighting offences

    9. 40. Forfeiture of equipment used in offences

    10. 41. Orders under section 33, 35, 37, 38 or 40: pending appeals

    11. 42. Orders with respect to licences

    12. 43. Termination of disqualification under section 34 or 42

    13. 44. Orders made on conviction for reimbursement of expenses

    14. 45. Orders for reimbursement of expenses: right of appeal for non-offenders

11. Scotland

    1. 46. Effect in Scotland of disqualification under section 34

    2. 47. Deprivation orders in connection with offence under section 46(2)

    3. 48. Seizure orders where disqualification breached: Scotland

    4. 49. Appeals against deprivation orders and seizure orders

    5. 50. Deprivation orders, seizure orders and interim orders: offences

12. General

    1. 51. Inspectors

    2. 52. Conditions for grant of warrant

    3. 53. Powers of entry, inspection and search: supplementary

    4. 54. Power to stop and detain vehicles

    5. 55. Power to detain vessels, aircraft and hovercraft

    6. 56. Obtaining of documents in connection with carrying out orders etc.

    7. 57. Offences by bodies corporate

    8. 58. Scientific research

    9. 59. Fishing

    10. 60. Crown application

    11. 61. Orders and regulations

    12. 62. General interpretation

    13. 63. Financial provisions

    14. 64. Minor and consequential amendments

    15. 65. Repeals

    16. 66. Transition

    17. 67. Extent

    18. 68. Commencement

    19. 69. Short title

13. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

       Regulations under section 13

       1. Part 1 Licences for the purposes of the section

          1. Introductory

             1. 1. This Part has effect in relation to regulations under section...

          2. Licensing authority

             1. 2. Regulations shall provide for the licensing authority to be—

             2. 3. Where the licensing authority is a local authority, regulations may...

          3. Period of licence

             1. 4. Regulations may, in particular— (a) make provision about the period...

             2. 5. Regulations may not provide for licences to be granted for...

          4. Exercise of licensing functions

             1. 6. Regulations may, in particular— (a) require a licensing authority not...

             2. 7. Regulations shall make provision requiring a licensing authority not to...

          5. Grant of licence subject to conditions

             1. 8. (1) Regulations may, in particular, make provision for the grant...

          6. Breach of licence condition

             1. 9. (1) Regulations may provide for breach of a condition of...

          7. Appeals

             1. 10. Regulations may, in particular, make provision for appeals in relation...

          8. Fees

             1. 11. Regulations may include provision for fees or other charges in...

       2. Part 2 Registration for the purposes of the section

          1. Introductory

             1. 12. This Part has effect in relation to regulations under section...

          2. Registering authority

             1. 13. Regulations shall provide for the registering authority to be—

             2. 14. Where the registering authority is a local authority, regulations may...

          3. Exercise of registration functions

             1. 15. Regulations may, in particular— (a) require a registering authority not...

          4. Appeals

             1. 16. Regulations may, in particular, make provision for appeals in relation...

          5. Fees

             1. 17. Regulations may include provision for fees or other charges in...

       3. Part 3 Supplementary

          1. 18. Power to make regulations under section 13(7) includes power—

          2. 19. (1) Power to make regulations under section 13 includes power...

    2. SCHEDULE 2

       Powers of entry, inspection and search: supplementary

       1. Safeguards etc. in connection with powers of entry conferred by warrant

          1. 1. (1) Sections 15 and 16 of the Police and Criminal...

          2. 2. (1) This paragraph and paragraph 3 have effect in relation...

          3. 3. (1) A warrant may be executed by any inspector.

       2. Duty to produce evidence of identity

          1. 4. (1) This paragraph applies to a power of entry conferred...

       3. Power to take persons onto premises

          1. 5. In exercising a power to which paragraph 4 applies, a...

       4. Duty to exercise power of entry at reasonable time

          1. 6. Entry under a power to which paragraph 4 applies shall...

       5. Power to require assistance

          1. 7. (1) This paragraph applies to a power of entry conferred...

       6. Power to take equipment onto premises

          1. 8. In exercising a power to which paragraph 7 applies, a...

       7. Duty to leave premises secured

          1. 9. If, in the exercise of a power of entry to...

       8. Functions in connection with inspection and search

          1. 10. (1) This paragraph applies to— (a) a power of inspection...

          2. 11. A person who takes a sample from an animal pursuant...

          3. 12. (1) Paragraph 10(2)(j) does not include power to seize an...

          4. 13. As soon as reasonably practicable after having exercised a power...

          5. 14. (1) A person exercising a power of search conferred by...

       9. Functions in connection with entry under section 19

          1. 15. (1) Where a person enters premises in exercise of a...

       10. Offences

           1. 16. A person commits an offence if he—

    3. SCHEDULE 3

       Minor and consequential amendments

       1. Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 (c. 38)

          1. 1. In section 4 of the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925...

       2. Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937 (c. 59)

          1. 2. In section 1 of the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937...

       3. Pet Animals Act 1951 (c. 35)

          1. 3. (1) Section 2 of the Pet Animals Act 1951 (pets...

       4. Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954 (c. 40)

          1. 4. (1) In the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954, after...

       5. Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 (c. 43)

          1. 5. (1) In section 1 of the Animal Boarding Establishments Act...

       6. Riding Establishments Act 1964 (c. 70)

          1. 6. (1) In section 1 of the Riding Establishments Act 1964...

       7. Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 (c. 60)

          1. 7. In section 1 of the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973...

       8. Guard Dogs Act 1975 (c. 50)

          1. 8. In section 3 of the Guard Dogs Act 1975 (guard...

       9. Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (c. 38)

          1. 9. In section 6 of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976...

       10. Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43)

           1. 10. In section 108 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (right...

       11. Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (c. 37)

           1. 11. In section 4 of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (grant...

       12. Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (c. 14)

           1. 12. (1) In section 22(5) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act...

       13. Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 (c. 3)

           1. 13. For section 3 of the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996...

       14. Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (c. 16)

           1. 14. (1) In section 57 of the Criminal Justice and Police...

    4. SCHEDULE 4

       Repeals