Requirements for the movement of circus animals
and animal acts
Commission Regulation 1739/2005 applies to the movement of circus animals and animal acts between European Union (EU) Member States. The Regulation was introduced to make travelling between EU Member States for circuses with animals and animal acts more straight forward by having one uniform set of rules rather than having differing rules in each Member State.
This regulation is enacted in England and Wales by the Animals & Animal Products (Import & Export) (Laboratories, Circuses & Avian Quarantine) Regulation 2007
Animal Health is responsible for administering the conditions of this Regulation in England and Wales on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Welsh Ministers.
The Regulation applies to animals whose primary purpose is for public exhibition and entertainment.
The species covered are all mammals (including bats), birds, bees, salmon and trout.
Requirements
If a circus or animal act meets the criteria described above, in brief, the Regulation requires that:
- The Circus or animal act must be registered with the Competent Authority in the country in which it has its legal residence or in the Member State in which it is situated. In Great Britain, this means being registered with Animal Health,
- All registration documents must be kept up to date and held for a minimum of five years,
- All animals in the circus or act have passports (dogs, cats, ferrets and horses require them under other legislation)
- All animals in the circus/animal act are tested and vaccinated as per the requirements in the circus and animal act passports;
- All animals registered as being part of the circus/animal act are kept away from unregistered animals;
Movement of circus or animal acts.
- At least 10 working days prior to travel, the registered circus/animal act must apply to the Competent Authority in which they are currently residing for an Intra Trade Animal Health Certificate. This will permit travel to another Member State.
For GB resident circus/animal acts this would be done by completing a Traces EXA application form, which can be obtained by contacting your local Animal Health Office or here and returning the form to your local Animal Health Office;
- At least 48 hours prior to any intended movement to another Member State, the circus/animal act must inform the Competent Authority in the Member State of departure of their actual movement date. For GB resident circus/animal acts a form is provided for this purpose.
Registering
If you need to register your circus or animal act in line with this Regulation, please complete the application form and send to the following address:
Central Operations Carlisle
Hadrian House
Wavell Drive
Rosehill Industrial Estate
Carlisle
CA1 2TB
If you have any further queries, you can contact us by either telephone or email:
Telephone No: 01228 403641
Email: PolicyLiaisonTeam.Carlisle@animalhealth.gsi.gov.uk
Forms
Charges
Animal Health makes charges for its service in registering your circus or animal act, you will also be required to pay for circus and animal act passports.
Legislation
Animals & Animal Products (Import & Export) (Laboratories, Circuses & Avian Quarantine) Regulation 2007
Frequently Asked Questions
- Circus FAQ
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