Transporting Animals in Great Britain: Key Documents and Records

Transporting animals in Great Britain, whether for yourself or for others as part of a business, requires you to follow specific rules to ensure the welfare of the animals. This guide covers everything you need to know to transport animals legally and responsibly across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Who Needs to Follow These Guidelines?

Anyone transporting animals as part of an economic activity, either for themselves or on behalf of someone else, must follow these rules. If different transporters are used for different parts of the journey, each transporter is responsible for meeting the animal welfare standards.

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What You Need to Transport Animals

To transport animals in Great Britain, you may need several documents and approvals:

  1. Transporter Authorisation

    • If you’re transporting animals over 65km by air, road, rail, or sea, you must have a UK-issued transporter authorisation.
    • There are two types of transporter authorisations:
      • Type 1: For journeys over 65km and up to 8 hours.
      • Type 2: For journeys over 8 hours.
Contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to apply, and remember to renew it before it expires. Always carry a copy of your authorisation when transporting animals.

  1. Certificate of Competence

    • If you’re transporting cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses, or poultry over 65km by road, you need a certificate of competence.
    • This certificate is specific to your role, the journey length, and the species you transport.
    • To obtain this, contact accredited course providers like City & Guilds, Lantra, or 1st4sport for horses and equines. You must carry a copy of your certificate during transport.

  2. Certificate of Vehicle Approval

    • If your journey is over 12 hours within Great Britain or over 8 hours to another country, you’ll need a certificate of vehicle approval for transporting cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, or horses.
    • Contact certifying bodies like Logistics UK or NSF to arrange an inspection. Keep a copy of this certificate with you during the journey.

  3. Animal Transport Certificate

    • For every journey, you must have an animal transport certificate that records:
      • The animals’ origin and ownership
      • Place and time of departure
      • Intended destination
      • Expected journey duration
    • Keep a copy of this certificate for at least 6 months after the journey ends.
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       4. Navigation System
  • For long journeys (over 12 hours within Great Britain or over 8 hours to another country), your vehicle must have a navigation system that tracks the journey details.
  • This system records the vehicle’s position, stops, loading and unloading times, and any animal injuries or deaths. Keep these records for at least 3 years.

Importance of Animal Welfare in Transport

Meeting these requirements is essential for the welfare of the animals. By following these guidelines, you ensure that the animals are transported safely and legally.

By understanding and fulfilling these requirements, you can ensure the safe and humane transport of animals across Great Britain.

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