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Follow this advice and guidance to protect animal welfare on your farm, at markets, slaughter and in transport.

Youre responsible for the welfare of any animals that you own or keep.

All farm animals are protected by animal welfare legislation.

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 is the principal law relating to animal welfare, protecting all vertebrate animals.

Under the Act, owners and keepers have a duty of care to their animals and must make sure they meet their needs:

• for a suitable environment and place to live
• for a suitable diet
• to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
• to be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if applicable)
• to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease

The Act prohibits animal cruelty which includes:

• causing unnecessary suffering to an animal
• mutilation
• poisoning an animal

Anyone who does not comply with the Act may:

• be banned from owning animals
• face an unlimited fine
• be sent to prison for up to 5 years

On-farm animal welfare

If you keep animals on your farm, the following legislation also applies.

The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 which are made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and sets the minimum welfare standards for all farm animals. Schedule 1 sets out conditions under which all farm animals must be kept, with Schedules 2 to 9 providing additional species specific conditions.

The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007 are made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which makes it an offence to carry out a prohibited procedure on a protected animal. For example, one which involves interference with the sensitive tissues or bone structure of an animal. The Mutilations Regulations 2007 lists those exemptions to which the prohibitions do not apply if certain conditions are met, such as ear tagging for the purposes of identification or castration for the control of reproduction.

For further information, read the guidance on farm animals: looking after their welfare including links to the species specific codes of practice.

Animal welfare at farm shows and markets

Read the guidance on protecting farm animals at shows and markets.

Animal welfare during transport

The welfare of animals during transport is protected by retained EU legislation.

You must transport animals in a way that is not likely to cause injury or undue suffering to them.

Read guidance on transporting and caring for animals in extreme weather.

When you transport animals you must:

• plan the journey properly and keep it as short as possible
• check the animals during the journey to make sure you meet their needs for water, feed and rest
• make sure the animals are fit to travel
• design, construct and maintain the vehicle and loading and unloading facilities to avoid injury and suffering
• make sure anyone handling the animals are trained or competent in the task and do not use violence or any methods likely to cause unnecessary fear, injury or suffering
• give the animals sufficient floor space and height

Legislation on the protection of animals during transport applies to the transport of live vertebrate animals in connection with an economic activity (a business or trade). This includes:

• livestock and equine hauliers
• farmers
• commercial pet breeders and rescue organisations
• pet couriers

The requirements apply to those working at:

• markets
• assembly centres
• slaughterhouses

The requirements do notapply to the transport of animals where this is not in connection with economic activity. For example, journeys which are:

• not in the course of business or trade
• not for hire or reward

Control posts to rest livestock

You may need to rest livestock at an approved control post if they are being imported to, exported from, or transiting through Great Britain.

When you request a journey log application form, APHA will provide guidance on journey times and rest stops as part of the application pack.

Enforcement

Welfare during transport is enforced by local councils. Trading standards officials carry out welfare checks on animals and means of transport. They will take appropriate enforcement action up to and including prosecution.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) carries out checks at markets, ports, roadside and at supervised loadings of export consignments. They enforce compliance with journey times through checks of journey documentation.

If you are concerned about the treatment of an animal during transport contact the local council (normally the trading standards department) or APHA.

Animals transported by air

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) sets out the requirements for transporting animals by air. Information on air transport and container requirements can be found on the IATA website on live animal regulations.

Transporting animals in Great Britain

When you transport animals commercially by air, sea, rail or road in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) you must have a transporter authorisation. This can be issued in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man .

To transport animals by road, you'll also need the following documents issued in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man:

• a certificate of vehicle approval for journeys over 8 hours
• a certificate of competence or to complete training for livestock, equines and poultry
• a journey log for imports, exports or transits of livestock and unregistered equines on journeys over 8 hours
• an animal transport certificate for all journeys not covered by a journey log

Transporter authorisations

You must have a transporter authorisation if you transport animals as part of an economic activity (a business or trade), for a distance over 65km.

You will need a:

• type 1 transporter authorisation for journeys over 65km and up to 8 hours
• type 2 transporter authorisation for journeys over 8 hours

Get a transporter authorisation

You need to contact APHAs Welfare in Transport team for a transporter authorisation application pack. This will include the forms you need to submit, and guidance on what to include in your application.

In your application you will need to declare any:

• Home Office simple cautions or convictions under legislation on the protection of animals
• current court orders restricting ownership, keeping or being in control of animals

This declaration includes you and anyone transporting animals under the authority of your Authorisation. Anyone who has bee

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