The Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provisions for the protection of racing greyhounds in England.

Part 1 of the Regulations designates the management of greyhound tracks for the purposes of section 13(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (2006 c.45). The consequence of this designation is that all operators of greyhound racing tracks must obtain a licence, in this case from their local authority, before allowing greyhounds to race or trial on their track. However, Part 1 exempts those track operators who are both regulated by a body accredited by United Kingdom Accreditation Service (or EU equivalent) and who meet the conditions set out in the Schedule.

Part 2 of the Regulations makes provisions for the granting and renewing of the licence by local authorities and the charging of fees to cover any reasonable expenses incurred in performing this function and for monitoring compliance with these Regulations.

Part 3 provides for the suspension and revocation of the licence if the conditions in the Schedule are breached and for appeals.

Part 1 of the Schedule sets out the conditions which must be met in order for a local authority to grant or renew a licence. Condition 1 requires the attendance of a veterinary surgeon at every race and trial and the inspection of every greyhound before racing or trialling by the veterinary surgeon in order to assess whether it is fit to run. Condition 2 requires the provision of adequate facilities for the veterinary surgeon. Condition 3 requires the provision of kennels which meet the requirements specified, for at least 20% of the greyhounds which are present at a track at any one time for the purposes of taking part in a race or a trial. Condition 4 requires a greyhound to be identified by both a microchip and, if born after the date the Regulations come into force, a tattoo, each bearing a unique number which must be registered with a database which complies with the provisions set out in Part 2 of the Schedule. Condition 5 requires an operator to keep records for 10 years of the current owner and trainer of any greyhound racing or trialling at the track. Condition 6 requires an operator to keep records for 10 years of details of injuries sustained by greyhounds during a race, trial or sales trial.

Track operators are not permitted to allow greyhounds to race unless details of the greyhounds are entered on a database. Part 2 of the Schedule sets out the information that must be recorded on the database and details how information on the database should be made available and to whom.

A person who operates a greyhound racing track without a licence commits an offence under section 13(6) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and is liable to imprisonment for a term of up to 6 months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both. Under section 30 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 local authorities may prosecute proceedings for any offence under the Act.

An Impact Assessment has been prepared and placed in the library of each House of Parliament. Copies can be obtained from Peter Hall, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 9 Millbank, c/o 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.