It will no longer be possible to keep primates as household pets
in environments that fail to provide for their needs
Only private keepers who can provide the zoo-level welfare
standards will be able to keep primates
Changes signed into law today fulfil a manifesto commitment and
Action Plan for Animal Welfare pledge
Measures have been signed into law today (Tuesday 5 March) to ban
the keeping of primates as pets.
The legislation brings in a licensing scheme setting strict rules
to ensure that only private keepers who meet new welfare and
licensing standards will be able to keep primates, delivering on
a manifesto commitment to provide greater legal protection for
pet primates.
The measures come into force from 6 April 2026 when all primates
in England will need to be kept to these zoo-level standards – in
effect banning the practice of keeping primates as pets.
It is estimated that up to 5,000 primates are currently kept in
domestic settings as pets in the UK. These wild animals have
complex welfare and social needs and, according to most experts,
cannot be properly cared for in these environments. The new
measures will improve the welfare of potentially thousands of
these intelligent animals.
Animal Welfare Minister said:
“We are proud to have some of the highest animal welfare
standards in the world, including these new restrictions which
will help tackle the inadequate conditions that some of these
inquisitive creatures are kept in.
“Anyone who fails to provide the same welfare standards as found
in a zoo faces a fine and having the primate removed from their
care.”
RSPCA Head of Public Affairs David Bowles said:
“Meeting the needs of monkeys and other primates is practically
impossible to do in a household, domestic environment.
“That’s why this legislation will be a really important moment
for animal welfare – ensuring primates can only be kept in an
appropriate environment, as we all strive to create a better
world for every animal.
“Too often, our dedicated officers are called to properties where
monkeys live in the wrong surroundings, eat totally inappropriate
diets and are at risk of suffering behind closed doors. This new
law has the potential to change that.”
Under the law all private primate keepers will be required to
hold a licence, issued by their local authority, with failure to
comply with licence conditions resulting in an unlimited fine or
removal of the primate. Defra will work closely with local
authorities to make sure that they have the appropriate tools and
guidance to ensure that enforcement will be carried out
effectively.
The new law builds on our recent consultation and flagship
Action Plan for Animal Welfare, which committed us to going even
further to protect animals, including banning the export of live
animals with a Bill currently going through Parliament.
Since publishing the Action Plan for Animal Welfare in
2021, we have brought in new laws to recognise animal sentience;
introduced tougher penalties for animal cruelty offences;
extended the ivory ban to cover other ivory bearing species; and
supported legislation to ban glue traps, the import of detached
shark fins and measures to ban the advertising and offering
for sale of low welfare activities abroad.
The UK was the first country in the world to introduce animal
cruelty offences and are the highest ranked G7 nation according
to the World Animal Protection’s Index.
