В Мидлсбро поступила первая заявка на частную лицензию для содержания приматов

First private primate licence application received in Middlesbrough under new legislation The new regulations, which apply to the whole country, came into effect earlier this year Middlesbrough Council has received its first private primate licence application under new national rules. Legislation that came into force earlier this year means that those who wish to keep monkeys and other primates in residential settings must have a licence to do so. Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the rules in their area, with a number of conditions pinned to any successful applicant. For example, primates must be kept and remain in their enclosure on licensed premises at all times, unless removed for a permitted reason such as vet treatment. Every enclosure must include an indoor and an outdoor area. The new regulations came into effect in April this year and the law means that those keeping lemurs, marmosets and other similar animals outside of a zoo setting must now provide zoo-level welfare. Middlesbrough Council would not disclose any further details - such as where in the town the hopeful primate owner is based - beyond the fact that it has received an initial application covered by the new rules. Guidance from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) explains that existing and prospective keepers of primates are now required to be licensed by the local authority for the area in which the primate is or is proposed to be kept. Only a person - not an organisation - can keep an animal under this primate licence. Local authorities are responsible for administering and enforcing this licensing regime. Local authorities must make sure that: - individuals who apply for a licence are likely to meet the licence conditions - licences are not granted to individuals that are disqualified from keeping primates - they take appropriate enforcement action against those individuals who do not have a licence when they should - they monitor compliance with the licence conditions themselves If a person is keeping a primate and doesn’t have a licence - be that a primate licence, a zoo licence (under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981) or an Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 licence - then they are committing a criminal offence and could face a fine or imprisonment. The primate licence lasts for three years, or a shorter period when requested by the applicant. Did you know you can make Teesside Live a preferred source of Teesside news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here's more information about what this means and how to do it - you can also do it by clicking here . For the latest Teesside news direct to your inbox every day, sign up to our free newsletter To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your Teesside community, visit the Public Notices Portal.