Guidance

Animal welfare

Advice and guidance on protecting animal welfare on farms, in transport, at markets and at slaughter.

Applies to England

Follow this advice and guidance to protect animal welfare on your farm, at markets, slaughter and in transport.

You’re responsible for the welfare of any animals that you own or keep.

All farm animals are protected by animal welfare legislation.

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 is the principal law relating to animal welfare, protecting all vertebrate animals.

Under the Act, owners and keepers have a duty of care to their animals and must make sure they meet their needs:

  • for a suitable environment and place to live
  • for a suitable diet
  • to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
  • to be housed with, or apart from, other animals (if applicable)
  • to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease

The Act prohibits animal cruelty which includes:

  • causing unnecessary suffering to an animal
  • mutilation
  • poisoning an animal

Anyone who does not comply with the Act may:

  • be banned from owning animals
  • face an unlimited fine
  • be sent to prison for up to 5 years

On-farm animal welfare

If you keep animals on your farm, the following legislation also applies.

The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 which are made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and sets the minimum welfare standards for all farm animals. Schedule 1 sets out conditions under which all farm animals must be kept, with Schedules 2 to 9 providing additional species specific conditions.

The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007 are made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which makes it an offence to carry out a prohibited procedure on a protected animal. For example, one which involves interference with the sensitive tissues or bone structure of an animal. The Mutilations Regulations 2007 lists those exemptions to which the prohibitions do not apply if certain conditions are met, such as ear tagging for the purposes of identification or castration for the control of reproduction.

For further information, read the guidance on farm animals: looking after their welfare including links to the species specific codes of practice.

Animal welfare at farm shows and markets

Read the guidance on protecting farm animals at shows and markets.

Animal welfare during transport

The welfare of animals during transport is protected by retained EU legislation.

You must transport animals in a way that is not likely to cause injury or undue suffering to them.

Read guidance on transporting and caring for animals in extreme weather.

When you transport animals you must:

  • plan the journey properly and keep it as short as possible
  • check the animals during the journey to make sure you meet their needs for water, feed and rest
  • make sure the animals are fit to travel
  • design, construct and maintain the vehicle and loading and unloading facilities to avoid injury and suffering
  • make sure anyone handling the animals are trained or competent in the task and do not use violence or any methods likely to cause unnecessary fear, injury or suffering
  • give the animals sufficient floor space and height

Legislation on the protection of animals during transport applies to the transport of live vertebrate animals in connection with an economic activity (a business or trade). This includes:

  • livestock and equine hauliers
  • farmers
  • commercial pet breeders and rescue organisations
  • pet couriers

The requirements apply to those working at:

  • markets
  • assembly centres
  • slaughterhouses

The requirements do not apply to the transport of animals where this is not in connection with economic activity. For example, journeys which are:

  • not in the course of business or trade
  • not for hire or reward

Control posts to rest livestock

You may need to rest livestock at an approved control post if they are being imported to, exported from, or transiting through Great Britain.

When you request a journey log application form, APHA will provide guidance on journey times and rest stops as part of the application pack.

You must have a health certificate to:

If you are required to rest your livestock, you must use an approved control post for your health certificate to remain valid.

Enforcement

Welfare during transport is enforced by local councils. Trading standards officials carry out welfare checks on animals and means of transport. They will take appropriate enforcement action up to and including prosecution.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) carries out checks at markets, ports, roadside and at supervised loadings of export consignments. They enforce compliance with journey times through checks of journey documentation.

If you are concerned about the treatment of an animal during transport contact the local council (normally the trading standards department) or APHA.

Animals transported by air

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) sets out the requirements for transporting animals by air. Information on air transport and container requirements can be found on the IATA website on live animal regulations.

Transporting animals in Great Britain

When you transport animals commercially by air, sea, rail or road in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) you must have a transporter authorisation. This can be issued in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man .

To transport animals by road, you'll also need the following documents issued in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man:

Transporter authorisations

You must have a transporter authorisation if you transport animals as part of an economic activity (a business or trade), for a distance over 65km.

You will need a:

  • type 1 transporter authorisation for journeys over 65km and up to 8 hours
  • type 2 transporter authorisation for journeys over 8 hours

Get a transporter authorisation

You need to contact APHA’s Welfare in Transport team for a transporter authorisation application pack. This will include the forms you need to submit, and guidance on what to include in your application.

In your application you will need to declare any:

  • Home Office simple cautions or convictions under legislation on the protection of animals
  • current court orders restricting ownership, keeping or being in control of animals

This declaration includes you and anyone transporting animals under the authority of your Authorisation. Anyone who has been convicted or given a Home Office simple caution under such legislation, in the 3 years before their application, will normally be refused an authorisation.

Renew your transporter authorisation

Transporter authorisations are valid for up to 5 years.

You should renew your transporter authorisation before it expires. Contact APHA’s Welfare in Transport team for renewal forms.

If you have a type 2 authorisation, your renewal application will need to include:

Check if a transporter is authorised

If you contract or subcontract a transporter to move animals, you must make sure the transporter holds a transporter authorisation certificate for the species of animal you want to transport. An authorised transporter must make their documents available to view.

Check type 2 transporter authorisation

For journeys over 8 hours, you should check the Great Britain type 2 transporter authorisation list. The list is updated monthly. To meet GDPR regulations, contact details for a transporter are not provided on this list.

If a transporter is not on the list, you should email wit@apha.gov.uk with:

  • the transporter’s name
  • the transporter’s address
  • species of animal

APHA will respond within 15 working days to confirm if the transporter is authorised for the species of animal. APHA will not provide any additional details or copies of documents.

Check type 1 transporter authorisation

For journeys over 65km and up to 8 hours, you will need to email wit@apha.gov.uk with:

  • the transporter’s name
  • the transporter’s address
  • species of animal

APHA will respond within 15 working days to confirm if the transporter is authorised for the species of animal. APHA will not provide any additional details or copies of documents.

Vehicle inspection and approval scheme

Road vehicles and containers used to transport animals on journeys over 8 hours, must be inspected and approved by a certifying body.

Certificates of vehicle approval are valid for up to 5 years.

Contact a certifying body to find out how to get a vehicle or container inspected and for information on the approval process.

Logistics UK

Hermes House
St John's Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN4 9UZ

Telephone: +44 (0)3717 112 222
Email: customerservices@logistics.org.uk

NSF Certification UK Ltd

Hanborough Business Park
Long Hanborough
Oxford
OX29 8SG

Telephone: +44 (0)1993 885 610
Email: certificationuk@nsf.org

Satellite navigation systems

Vehicles making journeys over 8 hours transporting cattle, sheep, pigs, goats or unregistered domestic equidae need to be equipped with a satellite navigation (tracking) system. There is an exception to this rule for journeys of up to 12 hours within GB.

Read the guidance note on satellite tracking systems for information on the basic functionality of systems. Designated vehicle approval certifying bodies can advise on how to get suitable equipment.

Complete training

Drivers and attendants of vertebrate animals must complete training for:

  • fitness for travel
  • the means of transport
  • use of its facilities
  • loading, unloading and handling
  • watering and feeding intervals, journey times and rest periods
  • space allowances
  • documentation

Market and assembly centre staff handling animals must complete training for:

  • fitness
  • handling
  • separation

Training can include:

  • on-the-job instruction combined with practical experience
  • formal training, such as college courses leading to standards equivalent to qualifications accredited into the national qualifications framework

Certificates of competence

You must have your competence independently assessed if you transport animals by road, on journeys over 65km, in connection with an economic activity. This only applies to domestic species of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, domestic equidae and poultry.

The assessment may be a:

  • theory test - for journeys over 65km and up to 8 hours
  • practical assessment of competence including animal handling, and if required, driving skills - for journeys over 8 hours

If assessed as competent, you will receive a certificate of competence. Your certificate will be specific to:

  • your role of either transporter or attendant
  • the length of journeys you take
  • the species you transport

Certificates of competence are valid for life.

The following independent bodies carry out assessments for competence and award competence certificates:

NPCT, Part of City & Guilds Group

Building 500
Abbey Park
Stareton
Warwickshire
CV8 2LY

Telephone: 024 7685 7300
Fax: 024 7669 6128
Email: information@cityandguilds.com
Website: www.nptc.org.uk

Lantra Awards

Lantra House
Stoneleigh Park
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG

Telephone: 02476 696 996
Fax: 02476 411 655
Email: awards@lantra-awards.co.uk
Website: www.lantra.co.uk

City & Guilds and Lantra Awards are designated to assess for competence and award competence certificates to transport: cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, equines and poultry (including game birds).

1st4sport Qualifications

UK Coaching Solutions Ltd
2 City Walk
Leeds
LS11 9AR

Telephone: 0113 290 7610
Fax: 0113 231 9606
Email: enquiries@1st4sportqualifications.com
Website: www.1st4sportqualifications.com

1st4sport is designated to assess for competence and award competence certificates to transport equines only.

Irish certificates of competence

Under the common travel area, Irish and British citizens can move freely and reside in either jurisdiction and enjoy associated rights and entitlements.

Defra will recognise training carried out in Ireland for the purpose of granting driver and attendant certificates of competence.

If you have an Irish certificate of competence, you can apply to APHA by completing an application form. You’ll need to provide a copy of your training and assessment, and your valid certificate of competence.

If you have a GB certificate of competence and want to apply to the RoI, contact the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

Journey logs

If you import, export or transit cattle, sheep, pigs, goats or unregistered horses you must have both:

  • a UK issued journey log - issued by either DAERA or APHA
  • an EU issued journey log

If you depart from Great Britain you must get a journey log approved by the APHA Centre for International Trade - Carlisle before the journey starts.

If you depart from NI, you must get a journey log approved by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) before the journey starts.

If you’re exporting to the EU you must get an EU journey log from the competent authority of the first point of entry into the EU.

If you’re importing from the EU to the UK or transiting Great Britain you must get an EU journey log from the competent authority in the country of origin in the EU.

Animal transport certificates

For all other journeys where a journey log is not required, you need an animal transport certificate. This includes for journeys of any distance or duration, and for all species of animals.

An animal transport certificate records:

  • origin and ownership of animals
  • place of departure and destination
  • date and time of departure
  • expected duration of journey

Contact APHA’s Welfare in Transport team for an animal transport certificate template.

Contingency plans

If you have a type 2 transporter authorisation, you must have contingency plans to deal with emergencies that can arise during a journey. For example, animals falling ill or getting injured, unforeseen delays, breakdowns or accidents.

You need to submit a contingency plan with your type 2 transporter authorisation application. APHA will provide a template as part of your application pack.

You must document your contingency plans and make them available to the competent authority on request.

Journey organisers need to submit a contingency plan with each new application for a journey log. APHA will give you a form to complete along with your journey log application.

In the case of multiple pick-ups and drop-offs you only need one contingency plan to cover the whole journey. In instances where loads are split, for example at a control post before onward travel to the destination on separate vehicles, only one contingency plan is required but separate instructions may be needed following the consignment being split.

For further guidance on contingency plans contact APHA’s Welfare in Transport team.

Transporting animals into the EU

UK issued transporter authorisations, certificates of competence and certificates of vehicle approval are not valid for use in the EU.

To transport live animals into the EU, in addition to holding UK documents, UK transporters must apply to an EU member state for a transporter authorisation.

You will need to be represented in the relevant member state. The term representation is not defined in the legislation. You should:

  • contact the relevant competent authority for the member state you wish to apply to
  • seek independent legal advice, specific to your business
  • discuss directly with your relevant trade organisation

You can only hold an authorisation in one member state.

When you apply for an EU issued transporter authorisation you need to submit any required certificate of vehicle approval and certificate of competence. All certificates need to be issued by an EU member state. Great Britain issued certificates are not valid.

You can get contact details for member states to which you wish to apply through the relevant Border Control Posts (BCPs).

Live animals may be required to enter the EU through an approved BCP. Find a list of approved BCPs.

Animal welfare at slaughter

Read the guidance on animal welfare at the time of killing.

Further information

Published 9 April 2013
Last updated 16 August 2023 + show all updates
  1. Removed out of date legislation references and added link to the on-farm animal welfare species specific codes of practice.

  2. Added information about control posts for resting livestock when they are being imported to, exported from, or transiting through Great Britain.

  3. Added a link to further government guidance on transporting and caring for animals in extreme weather.

  4. Added section ‘Check if a transporter is authorised’, including a link to the Great Britain type 2 transporter authorisation list.

  5. Updated to clarify that transport documents can be issued in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

  6. The legislation section has been updated to reflect the changes in maximum sentencing.

  7. Added that certificates and journey logs need to be GB or NI issued for transport in GB. Updated 'Vehicle inspection scheme and approval' section and Logistics UK contact details.

  8. Updated telephone number for Logistics UK. Updated section on Irish certificates of competence to confirm Defra recognises training carried out in Ireland when granting certificates of competence.

  9. We updated the transporting animals in Great Britain section to clarify that transporter authorisations issued in Northern Ireland are valid for transport within GB.

  10. Updated the guidance for animal welfare during transport. To transport live animals into the EU, UK transporters must apply to an EU member state for a transporter authorisation.

  11. WIT 21 – Guidance notes on the application forms - Welsh version updated

  12. WIT21 - Guidance notes on the application forms updated

  13. WIT21 guidance updated

  14. WIT6 – ATC template updated

  15. Factual errors fixed

  16. Added a link to slaughter detailed guide.

  17. First published.