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Animal Welfare Act 2006 in Northern Ireland

2006 c. 45 · Enacted 8 November 2006 · Extends to United Kingdom

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 6 April 2026.

An Act to make provision about animal welfare; and for connected purposes.

[8th November 2006]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. 1Animals to which the Act applies
  2. 2“Protected animal”
  3. 3Responsibility for animals
  4. 5Mutilation
  5. 6Docking of dogs' tails
  6. 7Administration of poisons etc.
  7. 8Fighting etc.
  8. 9Duty of person responsible for animal to ensure welfare
  9. 10Improvement notices
  10. 11Transfer of animals by way of sale or prize to persons under 16
  11. 12Regulations to promote welfare
  12. 13Licensing or registration of activities involving animals
  13. 14Codes of practice
  14. 16Making of codes of practice: Wales
  15. 17Revocation of codes of practice
  16. 18Powers in relation to animals in distress
  17. 19Power of entry for section 18 purposes
  18. 20Orders in relation to animals taken under section 18(5)
  19. 21Orders under section 20: appeals
  20. 22Seizure of animals involved in fighting offences
  21. 23Entry and search under warrant in connection with offences
  22. 24Entry for purposes of arrest
  23. 25Inspection of records required to be kept by holder of licence
  24. 26Inspection in connection with licences
  25. 27Inspection in connection with registration
  26. 28Inspection of farm premises
  27. 30Power of local authority to prosecute offences
  28. 31Time limits for prosecutions
  29. 33Deprivation
  30. 35Seizure of animals in connection with disqualification
  31. 36Section 35: supplementary
  32. 37Destruction in the interests of the animal
  33. 38Destruction of animals involved in fighting offences
  34. 39Reimbursement of expenses relating to animals involved in fighting offences
  35. 40Forfeiture of equipment used in offences
  36. 41Orders under section 33, 35, 37, 38 or 40: pending appeals
  37. 43Termination of disqualification under section 34 or 42
  38. 44Orders made on conviction for reimbursement of expenses
  39. 45Orders for reimbursement of expenses: right of appeal for non-offenders
  40. 46Effect in Scotland of disqualification under section 34
  41. 47Deprivation orders in connection with offence under section 46(2)
  42. 48Seizure orders where disqualification breached: Scotland
  43. 50Deprivation orders, seizure orders and interim orders: offences
  44. General
  45. 61Orders and regulations
  46. 64Minor and consequential amendments
  47. 66Transition
  48. 67Extent
  49. 68Commencement
  50. 69Short title
  51. Part 1: Licences for the purposes of the section
  52. Introductory
  53. 1Paragraph 1
  54. Licensing authority
  55. 2Paragraph 2
  56. 3Paragraph 3
  57. Period of licence
  58. 4Paragraph 4
  59. 5Paragraph 5
  60. Exercise of licensing functions
  61. 6Paragraph 6
  62. 7Paragraph 7
  63. Grant of licence subject to conditions
  64. 8Paragraph 8
  65. Breach of licence condition
  66. 9Paragraph 9
  67. Appeals
  68. 10Paragraph 10
  69. Fees
  70. 11Paragraph 11
  71. Part 2: Registration for the purposes of the section
  72. Introductory
  73. 12Paragraph 12
  74. Registering authority
  75. 13Paragraph 13
  76. 14Paragraph 14
  77. Exercise of registration functions
  78. 15Paragraph 15
  79. Appeals
  80. 16Paragraph 16
  81. Fees
  82. 17Paragraph 17
  83. Part 3: Supplementary
  84. 18Paragraph 18
  85. 19Paragraph 19
  86. Safeguards etc. in connection with powers of entry conferred by warrant
  87. 1Paragraph 1
  88. 2Paragraph 2
  89. 3Paragraph 3
  90. Duty to produce evidence of identity
  91. 4Paragraph 4
  92. Power to take persons onto premises
  93. 5Paragraph 5
  94. Duty to exercise power of entry at reasonable time
  95. 6Paragraph 6
  96. Power to require assistance
  97. 7Paragraph 7
  98. Power to take equipment onto premises
  99. 8Paragraph 8
  100. Duty to leave premises secured
  101. 9Paragraph 9
  102. Functions in connection with inspection and search
  103. 10Paragraph 10
  104. 11Paragraph 11
  105. 12Paragraph 12
  106. 13Paragraph 13
  107. 14Paragraph 14
  108. Functions in connection with entry under section 19
  109. 15Paragraph 15
  110. Offences
  111. 16Paragraph 16
  112. Schedule 3: Minor and consequential amendments
  113. 1Paragraph 1
  114. 2Paragraph 2
  115. 3Paragraph 3
  116. 4Paragraph 4
  117. 5Paragraph 5
  118. 6Paragraph 6
  119. 7Paragraph 7
  120. 8Paragraph 8
  121. 9Paragraph 9
  122. 10Paragraph 10
  123. 11Paragraph 11
  124. Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (c. 14)
  125. 12Paragraph 12
  126. 13Paragraph 13
  127. Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (c. 16)
  128. 14Paragraph 14