The Zoo Licensing Act aims to ensure that, where animals are kept in caged surroundings, they are provided with a suitable environment to provide an opportunity to express most normal behaviour. Zoos must comply with both the provisions of the act, and with the requirements set out in the Secretary of State's standards of modern zoo practice.
A zoo is defined in the act as being 'an establishment where wild animals are kept for exhibition... to which members of the public have access, with or without charge for admission, on more than seven days in any period of 12 consecutive months'.
The wide scope of this definition means that licensed zoos range from traditional urban zoos and safari parks to small specialist collections such as butterfly houses and aquaria. The act recognises this wide range of establishments by allowing dispensations to be granted for small zoos. Dispensations for these types of collection are purely to reduce the number of inspectors to a reasonable level for a small establishment, and do not in any way weaken a zoo's obligation to achieve the levels of animal welfare and modern public safety set out in the Secretary of State's standards. The act does not extend to circuses, or to pet shops, both of which are covered by other (Home Office) legislation.
The authority must arrange an inspection by a consultant inspector from the list of suitable inspectors nominated by the secretary of state.
An annual licence fee will be payable, please contact us for further information.
Contact details
Licensing Services
St Edmundsbury Borough Council
Borough Offices
Angel Hill
Bury St Edmunds
IP33 1XB
Tel: 01284 757103
Email: licensing@stedsbc.gov.uk
