Zoo Licensing Act 1981

SupplementalE+W+S

[F119A DirectionsE

(1)Where a local authority make a direction under this Act, they shall take reasonable steps to secure that the operator of the zoo is notified in writing of it.

(2)But where the operator of the zoo cannot, after reasonable enquiries have been made, be found, the authority shall take reasonable steps to secure that any person appearing to them to be responsible for the zoo is notified in writing of the direction.

(3)The operator of a zoo or other person notified in writing of a direction pursuant to subsection (2) shall comply with a direction under this Act made in respect of that zoo.]

[F419A.DirectionsS

(1)Where a local authority make a direction under this Act, they shall take reasonable steps to secure that the operator of the zoo is notified in writing of it.

(2)But where, after reasonable enquiries have been made, the operator of the zoo cannot be found, the authority shall take reasonable steps to secure that any person appearing to them to be responsible for the zoo is notified in writing of the direction.

(3)The operator of a zoo or other person notified in writing of a direction pursuant to subsection (2) shall comply with a direction under this Act made in respect of that zoo.]

20 Transitory provision for existing zoos.E+W+S

(1)A person who immediately before the date of the commencement of this Act was operating a zoo on any premises may continue to operate that zoo on those premises without a licence under this Act—

(a)during the period of six months beginning with that date; and

(b)if within that period application is made for a licence, until that application is finally disposed of or withdrawn and, if the application is refused, for a further period of six months.

(2)In the case of an application made as mentioned in subsection (1)(b), notice of intention to make the application shall not be required under section 2, but the application shall specify all such particulars as would be required to be included in a notice to the local authority under that section.

(3)On any such application the local authority shall carry out an inspection of the zoo in accordance with the provisions of section 10 before deciding whether to grant or refuse the licence, and may, if the licence is granted, grant it subject to such conditions as may be specified in the report of the inspectors.

(4)If the licence is granted—

(a)the inspection required by this section is in lieu of the first inspection under paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 10;

(b)it shall be granted for a period of four years beginning with the date on which the licence is granted.

21 Interpretation.E+W+S

(1)In this Act—

• “animals” means animals of the classes Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Amphibia, Pisces and Insecta and any other multi cellular organism that is not a plant or a fungus and “wild animals” means animals not normally domesticated in Great Britain;

• “circus” means a place where animals are kept or introduced wholly or mainly for the purpose of performing tricks or manoeuvres at that place;

• “keeper” includes any person employed under the directions of a keeper;

• “the list” means the list compiled by the Secretary of State under section 8;

• “pet shop” means premises for whose keeping as a pet shop a licence is in force, or is required, under the M1Pet Animals Act 1951;

• “taxonomic category” means a group or assemblage of species recognised as an entity in scientific classification;

• “zoo” has the meaning assigned by section 1(2).

• [F2“zoo closure direction” has the meaning assigned by section 13(12).]

(2)Nothing in this Act and nothing done under it shall prejudice or affect the operation of any of the relevant statutory provisions (whenever made) as defined in Part I of the M2Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

22 Consequential amendments.E+W+S

(1)The M3Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 shall be amended as follows—

(a) in section 5, for paragraph (1) there shall be substituted

“(1)a zoo within the meaning of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 for which a licence is in force (or is not for the time being required) under this Act”;

(b)in section 7(4) the definition of zoological garden shall be omitted.

(2)For the purpose of the said Act an animal shall be treated as kept in a zoo when it is elsewhere in the personal possession of the operator of the zoo, or of competent persons acting on his behalf.

[F322A Application of Act: England and WalesE

(1)The amendments made to this Act by the 2002 Regulations have effect in relation to England only, and accordingly, in the application of this Act in relation to Wales, the Act continues to have effect without the amendments made by the 2002 Regulations.

This subsection is subject to any regulations which may be made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 by the National Assembly for Wales.

(2)In this section “the 2002 Regulations” means the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2002.]

23 Short title, commencement and extent.E+W+S

(1)This Act may be cited as the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.

(2)This Act shall come into operation on such day as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint.

(3)This Act does not extend to Northern Ireland.