Animal Welfare Act 1992

On an application by a person for a circus or travelling zoo permit, the authority must—

grant the permit; or

refuse to grant the permit.

For an application for a circus permit, the authority must not grant a circus permit in relation to a circus if a prohibited animal is to form part of the circus troupe, whether or not the animal is to be used in the circus.

For an application for a travelling zoo permit, the authority must not grant a travelling zoo permit in relation to a zoo if a prohibited animal is to travel with the zoo, whether or not the animal is to be used in the zoo.

In deciding whether to grant the circus or travelling zoo permit, the authority must consider—

the experience and competency of the applicant, and the applicant’s employees and agents, in caring for and handling animals; and

the adequacy of the conditions under which the animals are to be housed, trained, transported or used; and

the adequacy of the facilities to be provided for the animals; and

the applicant’s response (or lack of response) to any request for further information under section 54 (4); and

whether the applicant has obtained and kept in force any necessary licences under the Nature Conservation Act 2014; and

whether the applicant has, within the 3 years immediately before the date of the application, been convicted or found guilty of a defined offence; and

any criteria prescribed by regulation.

Subsection (4) does not limit the matters that the authority may consider.

In this section: