expect these ideas to become law in the immediate future! We are probably looking at some few years down the line, but it is something for which we should be prepared. The section relevant to bird keeping is as follows - Existing animal welfare and licensing legislation is largely out of date and also fragmented. Recent phenomena such as free movement of animals across Europe and the rapid rise in Internet trading also require addressing. It is proposed that a new ‘across the


are


illegitimately obtained; or fall


sick and die. The PSUK Chairman attended


a meeting of the Companion Animal Sector Council (CASC) at DEFRA headquarters last November, representing parrot-keepers amongst


of group covering small mammals, reptiles, amphibians,


fish and other exotic species. The conclusions from that meeting have just been presented to HM Government, via DEFRA, and they make interesting reading. The wheels of government and legislation grind exceedingly slowly, and what with the EU referendum taking up most of its current attention, do not


34 BIRD SCENE


board’ registration scheme be applied to all animal concerns, whether that be importers, wholesalers, boarding establishments, pet shops, riding stables, hunt kennels, grooming parlours, zoos, rescue centres and sanctuaries, or breeders. The latter two categories are clearly of significance to bird keepers. These enterprises will all be termed Animal Establishments (AE). If the establishment were judged as a business using HMRC badges of trade, then it would require registration (AER). Hobby breeders or rescue centres would therefore require registration. A scale – probably based on numbers or financial considerations – would then be used to decide whether or not this business was purely a hobby enterprise, or was a profit-making concern. (There is obviously considerable room for misjudgment or complications here!). Such concerns would need to be licensed (AEL).


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