OpenLegislation

Animal Welfare Act 2006 in Scotland

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. Scotland
  41. 46Effect in Scotland of disqualification under section 34
  42. 47Deprivation orders in connection with offence under section 46(2)
  43. 48Seizure orders where disqualification breached: Scotland
  44. 49Appeals against deprivation orders and seizure orders
  45. 50Deprivation orders, seizure orders and interim orders: offences
  46. General
  47. 57Offences by bodies corporate
  48. 60Crown application
  49. 61Orders and regulations
  50. 64Minor and consequential amendments
  51. 65Repeals
  52. 66Transition
  53. 67Extent
  54. 68Commencement
  55. 69Short title
  56. Part 1: Licences for the purposes of the section
  57. Introductory
  58. 1Paragraph 1
  59. Licensing authority
  60. 2Paragraph 2
  61. 3Paragraph 3
  62. Period of licence
  63. 4Paragraph 4
  64. 5Paragraph 5
  65. Exercise of licensing functions
  66. 6Paragraph 6
  67. 7Paragraph 7
  68. Grant of licence subject to conditions
  69. 8Paragraph 8
  70. Breach of licence condition
  71. 9Paragraph 9
  72. Appeals
  73. 10Paragraph 10
  74. Fees
  75. 11Paragraph 11
  76. Part 2: Registration for the purposes of the section
  77. Introductory
  78. 12Paragraph 12
  79. Registering authority
  80. 13Paragraph 13
  81. 14Paragraph 14
  82. Exercise of registration functions
  83. 15Paragraph 15
  84. Appeals
  85. 16Paragraph 16
  86. Fees
  87. 17Paragraph 17
  88. Part 3: Supplementary
  89. 18Paragraph 18
  90. 19Paragraph 19
  91. Safeguards etc. in connection with powers of entry conferred by warrant
  92. 1Paragraph 1
  93. 2Paragraph 2
  94. 3Paragraph 3
  95. Duty to produce evidence of identity
  96. 4Paragraph 4
  97. Power to take persons onto premises
  98. 5Paragraph 5
  99. Duty to exercise power of entry at reasonable time
  100. 6Paragraph 6
  101. Power to require assistance
  102. 7Paragraph 7
  103. Power to take equipment onto premises
  104. 8Paragraph 8
  105. Duty to leave premises secured
  106. 9Paragraph 9
  107. Functions in connection with inspection and search
  108. 10Paragraph 10
  109. 11Paragraph 11
  110. 12Paragraph 12
  111. 13Paragraph 13
  112. 14Paragraph 14
  113. Functions in connection with entry under section 19
  114. 15Paragraph 15
  115. Offences
  116. 16Paragraph 16
  117. Schedule 3: Minor and consequential amendments
  118. 1Paragraph 1
  119. Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937 (c. 59)
  120. 2Paragraph 2
  121. 3Paragraph 3
  122. 4Paragraph 4
  123. 5Paragraph 5
  124. 6Paragraph 6
  125. 7Paragraph 7
  126. 8Paragraph 8
  127. 9Paragraph 9
  128. 10Paragraph 10
  129. 11Paragraph 11
  130. Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (c. 14)
  131. 12Paragraph 12
  132. 13Paragraph 13
  133. Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (c. 16)
  134. 14Paragraph 14
  135. Schedule 4Repeals