Primate licence

Introduction

The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 (external link) has introduced a licensing regime to protect the welfare of primates kept in England.

The Regulations apply to the keeping of any non-human primate in England on or after 6th April 2026, unless the primate is kept under a Zoo Licensing Act 1981 licence (zoo licence) or an Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 licence (ASPA licence).

A licence is required even if you have kept the primate for years.

Only a person (and not an organisation) can keep a primate under a primate licence.

All non-human primates are covered, from marmosets and tamarins to capuchins and macaques.  

Holders of primate licences may also require a licence under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (DWA) or a licence under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (LAIA), depending on the species of primates they keep and the activities the primates are involved in.

Anyone who does not have a valid primate licence in place by 6th April 2026 will be committing an offence. 

Licence application process

Please complete our Licensing enquiry form (external link) if you wish to apply for a licence.

An officer will acknowledge receipt of your request within 5-10 working days and provide you will the relevant documentation to enable you to apply for a licence, including what the next steps will be, and the fees payable. Applicants will also be required to cover the cost of the inspection by an approved veterinarian.

Inspections

A qualified inspector (usually a vet or primate expert) will visit your premises to assess whether you meet the licence conditions (see below).  At least one inspection is required during each licence period, unless a licence is granted for a period of less than one year.

The inspector will produce a report setting out their assessment of your likely compliance with the licence conditions based on the inspection carried out. The inspector may ask to look at records and written procedures to ensure compliance with licence conditions.

Conditions

Anyone seeking to apply for a primate licence must comply with all the licence conditions (external link).  The licence conditions set out a range of requirements on the care and management of primates to protect their welfare. Any person who is responsible for a primate also has a legal duty of care under section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to provide for the needs of an animal for which they care for. These include the need:

• For a suitable environment
• For a suitable diet
• To be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
• To be housed with, or apart from, other animals
• To be protected from pain, suffering, injury, and disease.

The licence holder has overall responsibility for the care and management of the primates kept under a primate licence and for making sure that the licence conditions attached to the licence are met.

Transferring or selling a primate

You must ensure the new keeper has a valid licence before transferring the primate. You remain legally responsible until they do.

Public register

We will maintain a public register of all the individuals which hold a primate licence. This will be updated on a regular basis.

Compliance

The Licensing team are responsible for administering and enforcing this licensing regime, and must make sure that:

• Individuals who apply for a licence are likely to meet the licence conditions
• Licences are not granted to individuals that are disqualified from keeping primates
• They take appropriate enforcement action against those individuals who do not have a licence when they should
• They monitor compliance with the licence conditions.