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Primate Licensing

The Animal Welfare (Primates Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 will come into force in England on 6 April 2026.

These Regulations require anyone keeping primates (outside of a Zoo licensed premises or premises licensed under Section 2C of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act) to be licenced by this date.

Definition of ‘primate’

Any animal of any species, other than Homo sapiens, which belongs to the order Primates.

Definition of ‘keep’

If the person has a primate in their possession (except where the person has it in their possession for the purposes of—

  1. preventing it from causing damage;
  2. restoring it to its owner;
  3. enabling it to undergo veterinary examination or treatment; or
  4. transporting it on behalf of another person).

Any person who currently keeps a primate must contact the Council at the soonest instance to begin the licensing process. The process will include completing an application form with supporting documentation and an inspection from the suitably qualified officer at the Council and a veterinarian. Licences will be valid for a maximum of 3 years (but may be shorter if requested/necessary).

From 6 April 2026, a person who keeps a primate in England without a primate licence will be committing an offence under Section 13(6) 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.

Please note, if a licence is already held for a primate under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, a licence under these Regulations will also be required.

Conditions and guidance

The conditions that must be complied with for a primate licence can be found in Schedule 1 of the Regulations issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

DEFRA are expected to issue further guidance to assist applicants with complying with licensing conditions, this page will be updated once this guidance has been published.

Application Process

Further information on the application process and fees for a primate licence will be posted here following the publication of statutory guidance issued by DEFRA.

If you currently keep a primate or intend to keep primates, please contact the Environmental Health Admin team who will be able to assist with the licensing process:

- Tel: 01622 602450 (Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm)

- Email: ehadmin@midkent.gov.uk

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