Animal gatherings

Animal Health approves and inspects animal gatherings on behalf of Defra, Scottish Executive and Welsh Government.

An animal gathering is defined as an occasion at which animals are brought together for a sale, show or exhibition, collection for onward consignment in Great Britain or a breed inspection to confirm the animals possess specific breed characteristics.

Animal Health provides guidance to support best practice at these events, and ensure that essential biosecurity measures are carried out.

Bird fairs

Bird fairs are permitted under the terms of a general licence. Before you arrange the collection together of poultry or other captive birds from different epidemiological groups at one location you must read and adhere to the conditions within the general licence.

The general licence allows bird gatherings to take place while minimising the risk of any disease spreading between flocks. It benefits the whole industry and the biosecurity conditions within the licence should be treated as good practice.

Where all the birds at an event, e.g. sale, show, training flight etc. are from a single flock, the event does not have to take place under the conditions of the general licence. However, it is recommended that you follow the advice in Appendix 1 to help minimise the risk of disease spread.

Details of the General Licence are available from:

Markets, shows and other gatherings

An gathering is when animals are brought together for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) a sale, show or exhibition,
(b) onward consignment within Great Britain, or
(c) inspection to confirm the animals possess specific breed characteristics.

These events are typically held on market premises or are livestock shows. There are some collection centres on farms. If you plan to hold such an event, you will need a licence issued by Animal Health.

Information leaflet: Animal Gatherings Order - Biosecurity guidance for operators and users in England and Wales (PDF 780KB) also available in Welsh (PDF 795KB).

The licensing process consists of an application to licence a premises, a disease control contingency plan, and an implementation plan - which is completed by each licensee and agreed with Animal Health to say how the licence conditions will be implemented on each licensed premises. These should be completed with reference to the Animal Gatherings Order and the Best Practice guidance (see below).

Application forms:

Application for a licence of premises to hold an animal gathering AGO1 (PDF 576KB)
A Disease Control Contingency Plan (for use at shows and markets) - AGO4 (PDF 1.5MB)
Animal Gatherings Order Licence Implementation Plan - AGO3 (PDF 619KB)
Animal Gatherings: Best practice guidance - AG14 (PDF 790KB)

Legislation: