# The Coypus (Prohibition on Keeping) Order 1987

S.I. 1987/2195 · made 26 November 1987 · revised to 2 July 2012

This Order prohibits the keeping of coypus within Great Britain. The Order replaces the Coypus (Keeping) Order 1982 (S.I. 1982/1744) which prohibits the keeping of coypus within Great Britain except under licence and which ceases to have effect on 1st January 1988.

Made under: 1932 c. 12 (Section 10)

PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/coypus-prohibition-on-keeping-order-1987/pdf/uksi_19872195_en.pdf

## Introductory text

ANIMALS
DESTRUCTIVE ANIMALS
Approved by both Houses of ParliamentMade 26th November 1987
Laid before Parliament 30th November 1987
Coming into force 1st January 1988
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales, being satisfied with respect to the non-indigenous animals which are the subject of this Order that by reason of their destructive habits it is desirable to prohibit the keeping of them and to destroy any which may be at large, acting jointly, in exercise of powers conferred by section 10(1) of the Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932 and now vested in them and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Order:

## 1 Citation and commencement

This Order may be cited as the Coypus (Prohibition on Keeping) Order 1987 and shall come into force on 1st January 1988.

## 2 Interpretation

In this Order “coypu” means the animal of the species Myocastor coypus.

## 3 Prohibition on keeping of coypus

The keeping within Great Britain of any coypu is prohibited.

## Signature

In Witness whereof the Official Seal of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is hereunto affixed on 22nd November 1987.
L.S.
John MacGregor
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Sanderson of Bowden
Minister of State, Scottish Office
22nd November 1987
Peter Walker
Secretary of State for Wales
26th November 1987

## Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order prohibits the keeping of coypus within Great Britain. The Order replaces the Coypus (Keeping) Order 1982 (S.I. 1982/1744) which prohibits the keeping of coypus within Great Britain except under licence and which ceases to have effect on 1st January 1988.
In consequence of the making of this Order the provisions of the Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932 will continue to apply to coypus. Those provisions include—
(a) a requirement that occupiers of land who know that coypus, not being coypus kept under a licence, are to be found there shall give notice of the fact to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the case of land in England, or to the Secretary of State for Scotland in the case of land in Scotland or to the Secretary of State for Wales in the case of land in Wales (section 5(2)); and
(b) a saving where a special licence is granted in respect of coypus kept for exhibition, scientific research or other exceptional purposes (section 8).

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1987/2195 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/coypus-prohibition-on-keeping-order-1987
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.