The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021

Regulation 2

SCHEDULE 2 General conditions

Licence display

1.—(1) A copy of the licence must be clearly and prominently displayed on any premises on which the licensable activity is carried on.

(2) Any website operated by the licence holder in respect of the licensable activity must clearly and prominently display—

(a) the name of the licence holder,

(b) the number of the licence holder’s licence, and

(c) the name of the licensing authority that granted the licence.

Records

2.—(1) The licence holder must ensure that all the records that the licence holder is required to keep as a condition of the licence are either—

(a) available for inspection by an inspector in a visible and legible form at any premises specified in the licence at which the licensable activity is carried on, or

(b) if not kept at such premises, are kept in a manner in which they can be readily made available to an inspector.

(2) Where any records that the licence holder is required to keep as a condition of the licence are stored in electronic form they must be stored in a form from which they can readily be produced in a visible and legible form.

(3) The licence holder must keep all such records for at least three years beginning with the date on which the record was created.

(4) Where records are not kept at any premises specified in the licence at which the licensable activity is carried on, the licence holder must promptly make such records available (whether in electronic format or otherwise) for inspection upon request by an inspector.

Number of animals

3.  The total number of animals kept for the activity at any time must not exceed the maximum that is reasonable taking into account the facilities and numbers of employed staff and volunteers on any premises on which the licensable activity is carried on.

Staffing

4.—(1) Sufficient numbers of people who are competent for the purpose must be available to provide a level of care that ensures that the welfare needs of all the animals are met.

(2) The licence holder or a designated manager and any staff employed to care for the animals must be competent to identify the normal behaviour of the species for which they routinely care and to recognise signs of, and take appropriate measures to mitigate or prevent, suffering, injury, disease or abnormal behaviour.

(3) Volunteers who assist in relation to the licensable activity must only undertake tasks for which they have been suitably trained.

(4) The licence holder must provide and ensure the implementation of a written training policy for all staff members and volunteers who care for the animals.

Suitable environment

5.—(1) All areas, equipment and appliances to which the animals have access must present minimal risks of injury, illness and escape and must be constructed in materials that are robust, safe and durable, in a good state of repair and well maintained.

(2) If the licensable activity is carried on from premises at which animals are kept, such premises must provide an environment suitable to their species and condition (including health status and age) with respect to—

(a) their behavioural needs,

(b) its situation, space, air quality, cleanliness and temperature,

(c) the water quality (where relevant),

(d) noise levels,

(e) light levels,

(f) ventilation.

(3) Animals must be kept clean and comfortable.

(4) Where appropriate for the species—

(a) opportunities for toileting must be provided, and

(b) a toileting area must be provided if the licensable activity is carried on from premises at which animals are kept.

(5) Procedures must be in place to ensure that—

(a) accommodation in any premises from which the licensable activity is carried on and in which animals are kept is capable of being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected,

(b) any equipment within the accommodation is cleaned as often as necessary, and

(c) good hygiene standards are maintained.

(6) The animals must be transported and handled in a manner (including for example in relation to housing, temperature, ventilation and frequency) that protects them from suffering, injury and disease.

(7) If the animals are kept in premises from which the licensable activity is carried on, all the animals must be easily accessible to staff and for inspection and there must be sufficient light for the staff to work effectively and observe the animals.

(8) All resources must be provided in a way (for example as regards frequency, location and access points) that minimises competitive behaviour or the dominance of individual animals.

(9) The animals must not be left unattended in any situation or for any period likely to cause them distress.

Suitable diet

6.—(1) The animals must be provided with a suitable diet in terms of quality, quantity and frequency and any new feeds must be introduced gradually to allow the animals to adjust to them.

(2) Feed and (where appropriate) water intake must be monitored, and any problems recorded and addressed.

(3) Feed and drinking water provided to the animals must be unspoilt and free from contamination.

(4) Feed and drinking receptacles must be capable of being cleaned and disinfected, or disposable.

(5) If the animals are kept in premises from which the licensable activity is carried on, constant access to fresh and clean drinking water must be provided in a suitable receptacle for the species that require it.

(6) Where feed is prepared on any premises from which the licensable activity is carried on, there must be hygienic facilities for its preparation, including a working surface, hot and cold running water and storage.

Enrichment and training of animals

7.  If the animals are kept in premises from which the licensable activity is carried on, active and effective environmental enrichment must be provided to the animals in inside and any outside environments.

Animal handling and interactions

8.—(1) All people responsible for the care of the animals must be competent in the appropriate handling of each animal to protect it from suffering, injury or disease.

(2) If the animals are kept in premises from which the licensable activity is carried on, the animals must be kept separately or in suitable compatible social groups appropriate to the species and individual animals.

(3) No animals from a social species may be isolated or separated from others of their species for any longer than is necessary.

Protection from suffering, injury and disease

9.—(1) Written procedures must—

(a) be in place and implemented covering—

(i) feeding regimes,

(ii) cleaning regimes,

(iii) transportation,

(iv) the prevention of, and control of the spread of, disease,

(v) monitoring and ensuring the health and welfare of all the animals, and

(vi) except in relation to fish, the death or escape of an animal (including the storage of carcasses),

(b) be in place covering the care of the animals—

(i) following the suspension or revocation of the licence,

(ii) during an emergency, and

(iii) following an emergency.

(2) All people responsible for the care of the animals must be made fully aware of these procedures before they attend to any animal in the course of the licensable activity.

(3) If animals are kept in premises from which the licensable activity is carried on, appropriate isolation, in separate self-contained facilities, must be available for the care of sick, injured or potentially infectious animals.

(4) All reasonable precautions must be taken to prevent and control the spread among the animals and people of infectious diseases, pathogens and parasites.

(5) All excreta and soiled bedding for disposal must be stored and disposed of in a hygienic manner and in accordance with any relevant legislation.

(6) Sick or injured animals must receive prompt attention from a veterinary surgeon or, in the case of any sick or injured fish, an appropriately trained person and the advice of that veterinary surgeon or that trained person must be followed.

(7) Where necessary, animals must receive preventative treatment by an appropriately competent person in consultation with a veterinary surgeon.

(8) The licence holder must register with a veterinary surgeon and the contact details of that veterinary surgeon must be readily available to all staff on any premises on which animals are kept and from which the licensable activity is carried on.

(9) Prescribed medicines must be stored safely and securely to safeguard against unauthorised access, at the correct temperature, and used in accordance with the instructions of the veterinary surgeon.

(10) Medicines other than prescribed medicines must be stored, used and disposed of in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer or veterinary surgeon.

(11) Cleaning products must be suitable, safe and effective against pathogens that pose a risk to the animals and must be used, stored and disposed of in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and used in a way which prevents distress or suffering of the animals.

(12) No person may euthanase an animal except a veterinary surgeon, a person acting under supervision of a veterinary surgeon, a person who has been authorised by a veterinary surgeon as competent for such purpose or—

(a) in the case of fish, a person who is competent for such purpose,

(b) in the case of equines and species generally regarded as farmed livestock, a person who is competent, and who holds a licence or certificate which is relevant to the species, for such purpose,

except where the purpose of the euthanasia is to end suffering that has arisen suddenly and unexpectedly and to arrange for such a person to euthanase the animal would prolong the suffering.

(13) All animals must be checked at least once daily and more regularly as necessary for any signs of suffering, injury, disease or abnormal behaviour and vulnerable animals must be checked more frequently.

(14) Any signs of suffering, injury, disease or abnormal behaviour must be recorded and if necessary the advice of a veterinary surgeon (or in the case of fish, of an appropriately competent person) must be sought and followed.

Emergencies

10.—(1) If animals are kept in premises, other than domestic premises, from which the licensable activity is carried on—

(a) a written emergency plan, acceptable to the licensing authority, must be in place, known and available to all the staff on the premises, and

(b) such a plan must be followed where necessary to ensure appropriate steps are taken to protect all animals on the premises (without risking human life) in case of fire, breakdowns of essential heating, ventilation and aeration or filtration systems or other emergencies.

(2) Any such emergency plan must include details of the emergency measures to be taken for the extrication of the animals should the premises become uninhabitable and an emergency telephone list that includes the fire service and police.

(3) External doors and gates must be lockable.

(4) If animals are kept in premises from which the licensable activity is carried on, a designated key holder with access to all animal areas must at all times be within reasonable travel distance of those premises and available to attend in an emergency.