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<p>The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 sets out comprehensive licensing and inspection requirements
for zoos. Responsibility for administering these requirements rests with local authorities,
which undertake annual inspections to ensure that zoos have sufficient levels of animal
welfare.</p><p>Defra supports this by setting out minimum standards that zoos are
expected to meet, via the Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice, and
by maintaining a list of qualified zoo licensing inspectors who undertake periodical
inspections of zoos for local authorities. These inspectors are competent to inspect
animals in zoos and to advise on their management and on their welfare. Where there
are concerns, local authorities have powers to impose conditions and to take further
action where necessary.</p><p>Defra has also established a Zoos Expert Committee,
which provides UK Ministers with independent technical advice, with a focus on the
role of zoos in conservation, education and scientific research and on the operation
and implementation of the zoo licensing system in the UK</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
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