Primate Licences

The Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 introduce a new licensing regime setting out welfare standards that keepers of primates will be required to meet.

Any individual who keeps or is proposing to keep a primate may apply for a primate licence from 6th April 2025. The Regulations which set out the conditions to be met in order to hold a licence can be found here.

Primate keepers who already hold a Dangerous Wild Animal Licence or a licence under The Animal Welfare (Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 will require a primate licence in addition to these other licences.

Licences will normally be issued for a period of 3 years and will only be granted if Buckinghamshire Council are satisfied that all the conditions set out in the Regulations are likely to be met. It will be necessary to carry out inspections both as part of the application process and during the term of a licence.

By the 6th April 2026 it will be a legal requirement for all private primate keepers to hold a primate licence.

We are currently waiting for statutory guidance to be published by DEFRA. In the first instance, anyone requiring further information or guidance on applying for a primate licence should contact the team at [email protected]