Animal Health Act

Gateshead Council enforces the Animal Health Act. This provides a framework for the control of animal disease outbreaks, such as:

• foot and mouth
• swine fever
• rabies

This is through routine monitoring of livestock, movement records and transport. 

We carry out visits at farms and other livestock holders. This is to ensure there are no cases of ill treatment or neglect.

We will also carry out checks on the welfare of animals during transport. As well as checking that all necessary paperwork is complete when animals move. This can be between farms or to slaughter. 

We also issue licences for:

• wild animals
• Zoos

External Links

• Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (opens new window)
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (opens new window)