Animal Welfare Act 2006 Explanatory Notes

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

  1. Introduction

  2. Background

  3. Overview

  4. Territorial Extent

  5. Territorial Application: Wales

  6. Application to the Sea

  7. Commentary on Sections

    1. Introductory

      1. Section 1: Animals to which the Act applies

      2. Section 2: “Protected animal”

      3. Section 3: Responsibility for animals

    2. Prevention of harm

      1. Section 4: Unnecessary suffering

      2. Section 5: Mutilation

      3. Section 6: Docking of dogs’ tails

      4. Section 7: Administration of poisons etc.

      5. Section 8: Fighting etc.

    3. Promotion of welfare

      1. Section 9: Duty of person responsible for animal to ensure welfare

      2. Section 10: Improvement notices

      3. Section 11: Transfer of animals by way of sale or prize to persons under 16

      4. Section 12: Regulations to promote welfare

    4. Licensing and registration

      1. Section 13: Licensing or registration of activities involving animals

    5. Codes of practice

      1. Section 14: Codes of practice

      2. Section 15: Making and approval of codes of practice: England

      3. Section 16: Making of codes of practice: Wales

      4. Section 17: Revocation of codes of practice

    6. Animals in distress

      1. Section 18: Powers in relation to animals in distress

      2. Section 19: Powers of entry for section 18 purposes

      3. Section 20: Orders in relation to animals taken under section 18(5)

      4. Section 21: Orders under section 20: appeals

    7. Enforcement Powers

      1. Section 22: Seizure of animals involved in fighting offences

      2. Section 23: Entry and search under warrant in connection with offences

      3. Section 24: Entry for purposes of arrest

      4. Section 25: Inspection of records required to be kept by holder of licence

      5. Section 26: Inspection in connection with licences

      6. Section 27: Inspection in connection with registration

      7. Section 28: Inspection of farm premises

      8. Section 29: Inspection relating to Community obligations

    8. Prosecutions

      1. Section 30: Power of local authority to prosecute offences

      2. Section 31: Time limits for prosecutions

    9. Post-Conviction Powers

      1. Section 32: Imprisonment or fine

      2. Section 33: Deprivation

      3. Section 34: Disqualification

      4. Section 35: Seizure of animals in connection with disqualification

      5. Section 36: Section 35: supplementary

      6. Section 37: Destruction in the interests of the animal

      7. Section 38: Destruction of animals involved in fighting offences

      8. Section 39: Reimbursement of expenses relating to animals involved in fighting offences

      9. Section 40: Forfeiture of equipment used in offences

      10. Section 41: Orders under section 33, 35, 37, 38 or 40: pending appeals

      11. Section 42: Orders with respect to licences

      12. Section 43: Termination of disqualification under section 34 or 42

      13. Section 44: Orders made on conviction for reimbursement of expenses

      14. Section 45: Orders for reimbursement of expenses: right of appeal for non-offenders

    10. Scotland

      1. Section 46: Effect in Scotland of disqualification under section 34

      2. Section 47: Deprivation orders in connection with offence under section 46(2)

      3. Section 48: Seizure orders where disqualification breached: Scotland

      4. Section 49: Appeals against deprivation orders and seizure orders

      5. Section 50: Deprivation orders, seizure orders and interim orders: offences

    11. General

      1. Section 51: Inspectors

      2. Section 52: Conditions for grant of warrant

      3. Section 53: Powers of entry, inspection and search: supplementary

      4. Section 54: Power to stop and detain vehicles

      5. Section 55: Power to detain vessels, aircraft and hovercraft

      6. Section 56: Obtaining of documents in connection with carrying out orders etc.

      7. Section 57: Offences by bodies corporate

      8. Section 58: Scientific research

      9. Section 59: Fishing

      10. Section 60: Crown application

      11. Section 61: Orders and regulations

      12. Section 66: Transition

      13. Schedule 1- Regulations under section 13

      14. Schedule 2 - Powers of entry, inspection and search: supplementary

  8. Concluding Sections

    1. Commencement

  9. Hansard References

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

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