Officially

From the publisher, in order, with its history intact.

Animal and Plant Health Agency gov.uk

Animal gatherings: licences

Imported from official source

When you need an animal gatherings licence

The premises where you plan to hold an animal gathering, such as a market, showground or collection centre, must have both of:

  • an Animal Gatherings Order (AGO) licence from Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
  • In England – as part of the licence process, APHA will request a CPH number from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) who will issue it and send you the details by email or post

    • You do not need a licence to hold an animal gathering if:

  • all the animals brought to the premises come from one holding
  • provide a contingency - complete form AGO04 or a document which covers the information requested in it - the plan tells staff what they must do if there’s a suspected or confirmed case of notifiable disease at the event

    • You can get help with AGO01 and AGO04 forms from APHA.

  • for England, send by post to Oak House, Bridgwater Road, Worcester, WR4 9FP or email [email protected]
  • for Wales, send by post to Gwasanaethau Maes Cymru/Wales Field Services, Swyddfeydd Penrallt Offices, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 1BN or email [email protected]

    • After you have submitted the completed forms, APHA will arrange a visit by a veterinary inspector to discuss your application and inspect the premises.

    Your licence will be posted or emailed to you if the veterinary inspector is satisfied that the licence conditions will be met.

    You must notify APHA and your local council:

  • 14 days before the event, if you have an existing licence
  • 90 days before the event, if you have a new licence

    • You do not need to do this if the date was included in your application form.

    Unless exempt, as a licensee you must pay licensing fees to APHA for premises used to hold an animal gathering.

  • the amount of work needed to process your application

    • APHA will carry out an inspection in most cases.

    You do not need to pay for your licence if the gathering is either:

  • a show or exhibition open to the public for only one day and no animals are sold or auctioned

    • This is an extract. The publication continues at the source.

    Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Licence

    Read the original at the source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-a-licence-to-hold-an-animal-gathering

    Officially imported this from Animal and Plant Health Agency’s own source and shows an extract. If you work there, claiming the profile and verifying the domain lets you choose to show the full text here.

    Provenance

    Organization
    Animal and Plant Health Agency — imported from official source
    Official source
    https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency.atom ATOM
    Imported
    November 09, 2026 16:01
    Versions
    1 recorded
    Identity
    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-a-licence-to-hold-an-animal-gathering#2026-11-09T15:51:26Z

    Officially records where a publication came from, not whether it is true. Imported records are reproduced from an organization's own official source.