Animal Welfare Law

​​​​​​​​​​​​Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 2004 (current law)

The Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 2004 will stay in force until the new Law starts.

• Apply for an animal welfare licence
  
• Read about animal welfare codes
• Check your pet’s welfare when travelling
  

Animal Welfare Law (Jersey) 2026 (incoming law)

In March 2026, the States Assembly passed the Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law 2026 (“the Law”). The Law has received Royal Assent and has been registered by the Royal Court.

The Law will come into force later this year or in early 2027.

The Law allows the Minister for the Environment to introduce Orders under Article 34.

We are consulting on the following draft Orders:

Animal Welfare (Prohibited Activities) (Jersey) Order 202-

We’re proposing a draft order which prohibits the administration of:

• certain poisons
• organised animal fights
• recording animal fights
• using of electronic collars
• using pinch or prong collars      

Animal Welfare (Prohibited Activities) (Jersey) Order 202-

Animal Welfare (Prohibited Procedures – Exemptions) (Jersey) Order 202- 

We propose to allow limited exemptions to Article 6 of the Law. These exemptions apply only to people authorised under Article 4 and must follow the conditions set out in the schedule.

Animal Welfare (Prohibited Procedures - Exemptions) (Jersey) Order 202-​

Animal Welfare (Prohibited Procedures) consultation​ letter​

Animal welfare in transport with an economic activity  

You don't need a transporter authorisation to move animals within Jersey. However, you must still follow the rules in the Community Provisions (Welfare of Animals during Transport) (Jersey) Regulations 2013.

If you transport animals, you're responsible for their welfare for the whole journey.

When transporting any animals, you must: 

• plan the journey properly and keep it as short as possible 
• make sure the animals are fit to travel for the entirety of the journey  
• check the animals frequently during the journey to make sure you meet their needs for water, feed and rest 
• use a vehicle which is designed and constructed to avoid injury and suffering 
• maintain and operate the vehicle to avoid injury and suffering 
• use loading and unloading facilities which are designed and constructed to avoid injury and suffering 
• maintain and operate loading and unloading facilities to avoid injury and suffering 
• make sure anyone handling the animals is trained in the task 
• give the animals enough floor space and height 

Hiring a transporter

If you hire someone to move animals on or off the Island, you must check they have the right authorisation for that species. An authorised transporter must be able to present their documents to you upon request.

For journeys over 8 hours, check if they’re a Type 2 authorised transporter in Great Britain. We accept transporters authorised in Great Britain.

List of Type 2 (L​ong Journey) Authorised Transporters on GOV.UK

To find authorised transporters in Jersey, contact the Animal Health and Welfare Team at rva@gov.je. 

EU transporters must have:

• a British authorisation (Great Britain or Jersey)
• an EU authorisation
• a representative in Jersey
  

Transporting animals to the EU

If you intend to transport animals to the EU, you must have: 

• British welfare in transport documents
• EU issued versions to transport animals in the EU
• enter the EU via a Border Control Post

Contact the relevant authority for that country to find out their rules. ​

When you need a transport authorisation

You need a transport authorisation if you’re participating in economic activity.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) takes the view that transport in connection with an economic activity consists of: 

“Any transport of animals undertaken as part of a business or commercial activity, which aims at achieving financial gain, whether direct or indirect, for any person or company involved with transport.”

Such transport would include journeys undertaken by:  

• commercial hauliers  
• farmers  
• pet animals where the movements are related to an economic activity, such as commercial pet breeders, dog racing, animals used in filming and advertising 
• ‘professional’ horse riders and jockeys, including those sponsored to compete 
• where animals are transported to be sold as part of a business  
• zoos and leisure parks  
• laboratory animals (but fitness to travel provisions don’t apply when the animals are taking part in an authorised research project) in all circumstances

You must have a Jersey transporter authorisation if you:

• are based in Jersey
• transport animals more than 65km by air, road, rail or sea

Apply for a transport authorisation

Types of authorisations:

• Type 1: journeys over 65km and up to 8 hours
• Type 2: journeys over 8 hours

Authorisations can last up to 5 years.

To apply for a Type 1 or Type 2 authorisation, contact the Animal Health and Welfare Team at rva@gov.je.

If you don’t need a transport authorisation

You don’t require an authorisation for transporting animals if the journey is not in connection with an ‘economic activity’. 

Journeys of the following nature also don’t require an authorisation:  

• not during business or trade  
• not for hire or reward  
• where pet animals are accompanied by their owner on a private journey  
• where pet animals are taken to or from a specialist show or competition and the primary purpose is for pleasure rather than as part of a business  
• where horses and ponies are transported by an owner for the purpose of riding, showing or competing for pleasure, such as show jumping or gymkhanas
• where individuals attending shows or competitions primarily for pleasure share the burden of transport, such as petrol costs, but where there’s no profit made by the individual undertaking the transport  
  
• undertaken by the armed forces or public services during their official duties 

Certificate of competence

You must have a certificate of competence if you transport over 65km by road with:

• cattle, sheep, pigs or goats 
• horses or other equines 
• poultry 

If an attendant is travelling with you, they must also have a certificate of competence. An attendant is someone directly in charge of the welfare of the animals during a journey. 

Your certificate of competence will be specific to: 

• your role as a transporter or attendant 
• the length of the journeys you take 
• the species you transport 

To receive a certificate of competence, contact a UK accredited course provider for training and assessment: 

• City & Guilds Land Based Services 
• La​ntra
• 1st4sport​ (horses and equines only) 

You must carry a copy of your certificate when transporting animals and make it available on request.  

Certificate of vehicle approval

You must have a certificate of vehicle approval for journeys longer than 8 hours if you’re transporting: 

• cattle 
• sheep 
• pigs 
• goats 
• horses and other equines 

You must also have a certificate of vehicle approval if you’re transporting poultry or any other species not listed above for longer than: 

• 12 hours within the UK 
• 8 hours in any country outside the UK 

To check vehicle requirements, arrange an inspection and receive a certificate of vehicle approval, contact one of these certifying bodies:

• Logistics.org.uk
• NSF

In some limited cases it may be possible for the Animal Health and Welfare team to approve your vehicle in Jersey.  

Certificates of approval are valid for up to 5 years, or until you modify the vehicle in a way which affects animal welfare. 

You must carry a copy of your certificate when transporting animals and make it available on request.  

Navigation system

Your vehicle must have a navigation (tracking) system for journeys over 12 hours (within Great Britain), or over 8 hours (to any other country) if you’re transporting: 

• cattle, sheep, pigs or goats 
• unregistered domestic horses or other equines 

The navigation system must be able to record: 

• the geographical position of the vehicle 
• departure and arrival times 
• any stops and their duration 
• opening and closing of entry points for loading and unloading of animals 
• the name and authorisation number of the transporter 
• the number of animals that have been injured or died during and after the journey and the reasons for their injury or death 

You must keep all records from the navigation system for at least 3 years. 

Journey logs

You must have a journey log if your journey is: 

• over 8 hours
• to a country outside of the UK and Jersey
• transporting: 
• cattle, sheep, pigs or goats 
• unregistered domestic horses or other equines 

If you’re transporting animals between Jersey and the EU, you’ll need: 

• a Jersey issued journey log 
• an EU issued journey log (issued by the first country you arrive in the EU) 

Further information​​

You can find out more information on animal welfare during transport on the GOV.UK website. 

If you have any questions, you can also contact the Animal and Welfare Team at rva@gov.je​.