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 are able to apply for a primate licence below 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.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has produced guidance relating to the licensing of primates which outlines the conditions of the licence. The details can be found here - Licensing process for keeping primates - GOV.UK
The government guidance sets out who is a suitable person to inspect premises where primates are kept. A qualified veterinary professional will carry out the inspection with a licensing officer. The vet’s fees will be recharged to the applicant.
The application form for a primate licence can be found at Application for a licence to keep primates
Fees
| Primate Licensing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | £424.20 |
| Licence Fee for 3 Years (plus veterinary costs) | £218.80 |
| Variation of Licence fee - increase numbers or add more species | £237.20 |
| Variation of Licence fee - reduce numbers or remove species | £91.70 |
Please note that you are recommended to make contact with the team using the contact details below prior to submitting an application to ensure that you will be able to meet the licensing requirements.
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
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.
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
Once an application is received it will be received by a licensing officer, an inspection will be arranged at your premises accompanied by a vet. The inspector will assess your premises against the conditions specified in the regulations.
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.
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.
The following paperwork needs to be submitted as part of your application:
- a plan of the premises
- a register of all animals kept on the premises, including:
- its name
- its sex
- its microchip number
- its date of birth - if this isn't known, its approximate date of birth
- its species
- its colour and marking
- the name and contact details of its previous keeper, where applicable
- the date and cause of its death, where applicable
- where the primate is permanently transferred to other premises, the name and contact details of the new keeper, where applicable, and the address of the place it has been relocated
- a written emergency plan covering:
- the measures to be taken for the removal of the primates should the licensed premises become unsafe or uninhabitable
- the arrangements for the care of the primates during and following an emergency
- an up-to-date list of emergency contact details that includes the fire service and police
- a written procedure for special circumstances, including contingencies in the event of:
- the temporary isolation of any primate, including arrangements for making sure that the welfare of any primate that is being temporarily isolated is met during the period of its isolation
- the death or escape of a primate
- the care of the primate following the licence's revocation or the licence holder's death
- a written hygiene protocol covering:
- cleaning and disinfecting
- prevention and control of the spread of disease
- a written transportation procedure covering the welfare of the primate while being transported
- the individual diet plans for each primate - this must be created based on guidance from a vet or primate dietary expert.
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.