Primate Licence
Information about the primates licence regulations
From 6 April 2025 The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations have come into force. The legislation brings in a licensing scheme, setting strict rules to ensure that only private keepers who can provide zoo-level welfare standards will be able to keep primates.
Existing private primate keepers will be able to apply for a primate licence very soon and, from 6 April 2026, all private primate keepers and people proposing to keep a primate will be required to hold a licence, valid for a maximum of three years, and undergo reassessment to renew their permission to keep their animals.
A person who requires a primate licence and keeps a primate in England without one will be committing an offence under section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and will be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term of up to six months, a fine or both.
We are expecting DEFRA to issue further guidance in relation to primate licences very shortly and this webpage will be updated following this. Please check back soon for any changes or additional information.
In the meantime, if you think you may be affected by these changes please email your contact details to foodandsafety@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk so that you may be added to our contact list and kept informed of any further updates.
More information on the licensing process can be found in the FAQs below.
Primate licence FAQs
I am a private keeper of a primate. What do I need to do?
You should apply for a primate licence from April 2025 (once the application forms are available). Doing so early will mean that you have a longer period to adapt to the changes that will become law in April 2026.
What conditions will I need to meet in order to be licensed?
You can find the conditions that you will need to meet in Schedule 1 of the regulations. All applicants will need to meet the conditions.
Is anyone exempt from the need to be licenced?
The following do not need a primate licence (although they may need another licence):
- Zoos where a zoo licence is held
- A registered premises for animal experiments
How much does a licence cost and what will happen after I apply?
The licence application fee will be calculated once the guidance document has been published by DEFRA. The cost of the vet’s time will also be recharged to the applicant. Once a valid application is received, a licensing officer will arrange to inspect your premises, accompanied by a vet. The Inspectors will assess your premises against the conditions specified in the regulations.
How long do licences last?
Primate licences last for a maximum of 3 years but you can request a shorter period if necessary. You must apply to renew your licence 10 weeks before your current one ends. This date is shown on your licence.
What paperwork will I need to submit with my application?
The regulations require specific documentation to be kept as part of the licence. In order to ensure we deal with your application as quickly as possible; you should submit them as part of your application.
Your policies and procedures should provide a snapshot of your business and detail how you meet all the licence conditions.
Neighbourhood nuisance issues and planning
We have a duty to investigate complaints of nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Even if you have had a licence or planning permission granted, if we find your premises to have issues such as excessive noise, and odour, this could result in formal action being taken. For further advice, please contact cpandeq@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk.
You may need planning permission for keeping the primates. Please see our planning pages for further information. We cannot accept an application unless any relevant planning permission has been granted.