In the aftermath of the Foot and Mouth outbreak, a rigorous Animal Health regime of licensing was introduced to control the keeping and movement of a range of animals.
Our Animal Health function is delivered by the Public Health Team, who also deal with Animal Movement Licenses in Torfaen.
Animal holdings
Any person keeping or wanting to keep cattle, sheep, goats or pigs must apply to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for a holding number.
When this number is received the animals can be moved onto or off the premises via the method described on the EU Regulation on the non-commercial movement of pet animals (opens in new tab) area of the DEFRA website.
Animal movements
All movements of cattle, deer, sheep, goats and pigs are now controlled by a general licence. Bio security measures apply to all holdings to which animals are moved, and a standstill period applies where certain animals must be kept in one location after being moved so that any disease can be identified and dealt with.
The conditions which apply to these movement restrictions vary according to the type of animal, the destination, the type of trip and the latest information on diseases etc. This means that these conditions are constantly being altered, so it is important that you make yourself aware of the latest conditions when applying for a movement licence.
Information regarding animal movement licences is available on the Animal Health area of the DEFRA website (opens in new tab).
Applying for a licence
| Licence Summary | The animal health function is dealt with by the Public Health Team of Torfaen CBC Environmental Health Section. |
|---|---|
| Information and guidance on the law | The Disease Control (England) Order 2003 (opens in new tab) The Welfare of Animals (Transport)(England) Order 2006 (opens in new tab) |
| How to apply | The appropriate licence and/or movement reporting form can be downloaded from the DEFRA website (opens in new tab) |
| Application fees | None |
| Does Tacit Approval apply? | No. The law requires that all movement of animals is licensed and reported to the appropriate agencies. |
| Offences and Penalties | Failure to comply with the rules laid down in the licence may result in the revocation of the general licence and/or prosecution |
| Exemptions | None |
| Application Evaluation Process | None |
| Trade Associations | None |
| Free Advice | Please contact this service for more information or advice. Visit the DEFRA website (opens in new tab) for further information on animal movement licensing. |
Please Note - Torfaen County Borough Council (The Council) is under a duty to protect the public funds which it administers and to this end may use the information you provide within Torfaen County Borough Council for the prevention and detection of fraud. The Council may also share this information with other bodies administering or in receipt of public funds solely for these purposes. For further information, visit the National Fraud Initiative area of the website.