These guidance documents contain extensive information on what will be required to meet the licence conditions and what steps can be taken to meet the highest animal welfare standards. You should ensure that you have read the relevant documentation before you apply for your licence. 

Please fully complete the application form and gather together all additional documents (as stated on the application form) that you need to submit at the same time as your application.

Once completed, please email it to [email protected]

We can't accept incomplete applications forms or applications that aren't accompanied by all the required documents. 

Once we receive your complete application accompanied by the required documents, we'll contact you to take your first payment. Once we process this, your application will be considered against the standard assessment criteria, and we'll make arrangements for a site visit. Our officer carrying out the assessment will consider several factors relating to the business compliance history, complaints, animal welfare and management standards. The outcome will be used to determine the risk/star rating and duration of your licence. However, please be aware that we'll require the second payment before we grant a full licence.

First payment - Application fee

This covers our costs of handling your application, carrying out an inspection and determining whether we should grant a licence.

Second payment - Granting fee

This covers the cost of issuing the licence and conducting an unannounced inspection during the licence term (as required by government guidance).

The licence will only be issued after the second payment has been made.

New fees come into force in April every year. All fees are calculated in accordance with the statutory guidance, which stipulates a full cost recovery model.

Fees are exclusive of VAT.

Re-rating

You can request a re-inspection to re-evaluate an issued star rating using our Request for a Re-Inspection Visit form. You should outline the case for re-inspection and indicate the actions taken to improve compliance or welfare since the last rating inspection. Your supporting evidence should relate to the actions we previously advised your business to take to ensure a higher star rating.

Appeals to a risk rating

Your business can dispute the star rating we've awarded if you feel the score didn't reflect the animal welfare standards and risk levels at the time of the inspection. An appeal can be made using our Request for An Appeal form below.

We advise businesses to discuss their intention to appeal with our inspecting officer before submitting a formal written appeal. Our officer will explain how the rating was awarded, which may help resolve the need for a formal appeal. If you're still not satisfied with the risk rating score following an informal discussion with our inspecting officer, you can submit a formal appeal in writing to us.