Licence To Keep A Primate
Information about licensing for primate keepers
Licence To Keep Primates
As of 6th April 2026, a licence is required for any person or company to keep any primate unless they are already licensed as a zoo or under section 2C of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
Note that, where a primate species is listed as requiring a licence under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (DWA), the keeper must hold both licences. Please see our licensing page for details of how to apply for a DWA licence.
On this page
— The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024
— Variation and surrender of a licence by a licensee
— Rectification, revocation or variation by the Council
The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024
The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 were made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and require anyone keeping primates to apply to the Council for a licence. Primate keepers must have applied for a licence before 6th April 2026.
Planning permission may be required to keep primates at a premises and to build enclosures. Please consult the Planning Department for further information.
Applying for a licence
To make an application, complete the online application form - you can register with our website or use the 'Guest' button, which does not require you to sign in.
New applications and renewals use the same form and will be processed in the same way. For renewals, please apply at least 10 weeks before your current licence expires.
Please contact us if you have any queries:
- Email: eh@winchester.gov.uk
- Telephone: 01962 848097
Licence Conditions
The Council follows the Government's Licence Process For Keeping Primates
All conditions in Schedule 1 of the legislation must be complied with for a licence to be granted.
Note that there are extra conditions for Callitrichids (marmosets, tamarins and lion tamarins)
Once granted, a licence will last for 3 years, although the licensee may request a shorter licensing period.
Licence fees
The application fee for 2026/27 is £606. This covers all the Council's costs for administration and Council officers' time, including the 2 inspections required during the licensing period.
Note that a suitable person with the appropriate knowledge of primates must be appointed by the Council as an inspector, and will usually be a veterinary practitioner. An inspection will take place after an application has been received and a further inspection will take place during the licence period. The costs of the inspector will be recharged to the applicant after each inspection. These costs are in addition to the application fee.
When you have finished filling in the application form, you will be taken to a payment screen so have your card details ready. Payment must be made at the same time as you complete the form.
If you have trouble paying for your licence application, please call us on 01962 848097. Fees are per application and, once an application has been made, are unlikely to be refunded unless there are exceptional circumstances. Requests for refunds will be considered by the Environmental Health Manager.
Inspections
The inspector will be a "suitable person" appointed by the Council. This person must have appropriate knowledge of primates, will usually be a veterinary practitioner, and will be accompanied by one or more Council officers.
There will be one inspection following application and, if the licence is granted, there will be one further inspection during the licence period. If there are concerns at the further inspections, it is possible that an extra inspection may be made during the licence period.
Thus applicants must be aware that they will be responsible for payment of fees for the costs of the inspector for 2, possibly more, inspections during the 3 year licence period.
For new applicants, there may be works or paperwork to be completed following inspection before a licence can be granted.
Unlicensed premises may also be inspected in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Refusal of a licence
A licence will be refused:
- If the applicant is under 18
- If the applicant has been disqualified from keeping primates
- If conditions of the licence are not met and/or not likely to be met
If a licence is refused, the applicant may appeal in writing to the Council at eh@winchester.gov.uk for the decision to be reviewed within 28 days of them being informed of the decision.The applicant may subsequently appeal within 28 days to a First-tier Tribunal if the Council has upheld the decision to refuse the licence.
Variation and surrender of a licence by a licensee
The licensee may request in writing to eh@winchester.gov.uk for a licence to be varied if changing the numbers and/or species of primates to be kept or significantly changing the enclosures. The Council will make a decision as to whether a variation can be made but may require further information or even a further inspection. The licensee may be charged for all costs incurred by the Council when assessing whether or not to make a variation.
Where a licensee wishes to move address, a variation can be granted if the move is within the same Council area. However a further inspection must be made in these circumstances and the licensee will be charged for all costs incurred. Where the move is to a different Council area, a fresh licence application must be made to the new Council.
A licensee must apply to the Council in writing to surrender a licence and must give full addresses and dates of where all primates are to be going and how they are to be transported. Where primates are going to England or Wales, they may only be taken to a premises where a licence is in place (provided that a licence is required by law).
If an application to vary or surrender a primate licence is refused, the applicant may appeal in writing to the Council at eh@winchester.gov.uk for the decision to be reviewed within 28 days of them being informed of the decision.The applicant may subsequently appeal within 28 days to a First-tier Tribunal if the Council has upheld the decision to refuse the licence.
Rectification, revocation or variation by the Council
Where a licensee is failing to meet one or more licence conditions, a rectification notice may be served by the Council stating where the licensee is failing, what needs to be done and a time scale for rectification. A time scale may be extended at the Council's discretion. However, there is no requirement to serve a rectification notice if the Council considers the breach of licence condition(s) serious enough to necessitate prosecution.
A licence must be revoked by the Council if the licensee is convicted of any offence under the Animal welfare Act 2006.
The Council may also revoke or vary the licence if the local authority is satisfied that the holder of the licence has failed to—
- comply with a licence condition;
- allow access for an inspection;
- pay a fee charged; or
- take the steps specified in a rectification notice.
Where the Council has issued a redtification notice, varied or revoked a licence, the licensee may appeal in writing to the Council at eh@winchester.gov.uk for the decision to be reviewed within 28 days of them being informed of the decision.The applicant may subsequently appeal within 28 days to a First-tier Tribunal if the Council has upheld the decision to refuse the licence.