Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 17 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 November 2005. It was answered by Lord Knight of Weymouth (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 November 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Animal Exhibitions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria are being applied to establishments exhibiting animals to decide which fall outside of the terms of Article 2 of the Zoo Directive 1999/22/EC.

Answer: My Department publishes guidance on the criteria which are used to determine whether establishments exhibiting wild animals can be granted exemption from the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (and hence from Directive 1999/22/EC in accordance with Article 2). These criteria are set out in Annex D of Circular 02/2003 (as amended by more recent guidance on llama and alpaca). The circular and updated guidance can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/gwd/zoo.htm.The criteria were developed with advice from the Zoos Forum, the Government's advisory body on zoo licensing matters. Each application is considered on its merits, along with advice from zoo inspectors, and some flexibility may be applied if there are other relevant considerations.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 30915; 439 c1830W;439 c1832W
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Animal Exhibitions
Monday, 5 December 2005
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Animals Licensing EU law Wildlife Zoos Wildlife parks
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk