Animal Licensing

Inspecting your premises

Once an application is made it will be necessary for us to come to visit your premises to undertake an inspection and to carry out a risk rating for the activity. The risk rating is used to determine the duration of the licence. The star rating will form part of the licence which must be publicly displayed.

Under the new regulations, a licence will last for either 1, 2 or 3 years. During inspection we will consider two main aspects:

Welfare standards

The welfare standards are based upon assessment of a range of criteria including

• records
• staffing
• the environment
• diet
• and the protection of the animals from pain and suffering.

The inspection findings will determine whether there are 'minor failings', 'minimum standards' are achieved or 'higher standards' have been met.

Risk

This is largely based on the history of compliance of the business, and also upon the licence holder's appreciation of hazards and risks. The overall risk will be determined as being either

• low
• higher

Scoring your premises

The inspection findings will be fed into the following scoring matrix which determines both the licence duration, but also a star rating which will be given to your business.                                                            

Matrix Scoring
Risk	Welfare Standards
	Minor failings (existing business that are failing to meet minimum standards)	Minimum standards (as laid down in the schedules and guidance)	Higher standards (as laid down in the guidance)
Low risk	1 star 1 year licence Minimum 1 unannounced visit within 12 month period	3 star 2 year licence Minimum 1 unannounced visit within 24 month period	5 star 3 year licence Minimum 1 unannounced visit within 36 month period
Higher risk	1 star 1 year licence Minimum 1 unannounced visit within 12 month period	2 star 1 year licence Minimum 1 unannounced visit within 12 month period	4 star 2 year licence Minimum 1 unannounced visit within 24 month period