Getting approval to exhibit animals
Under the Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986 (the Act), the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (the department) must issue an authority (permit, licence or approval) before animals can be exhibited. The licensing scheme includes requirements authority holders must meet regarding the housing, care and exhibition of their animals.
Different authorities are needed depending on how the animals will be exhibited and the species involved.
Authorities needed
The Exhibited Animals Protection Regulation 2021 provides for three classes of animal display establishments:
| Class of establishment | Definition | Examples | Authority required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed | An animal display establishment comprising premises used, on an ongoing basis, for the display, and the keeping for display, of animals, not being the following: a) an off-display establishment | Premises which are open to the public and where animals are permanently kept for display and displayed to the public in fixed enclosures. Examples: zoos, fauna parks and oceanariums. Prescribed (mandatory) standards apply to the keeping of animals for display and display of the animals, including requirements for the public (e.g. signage, education, facilities like toilets and seating, public safety). | Licence - fixed establishment: Authorises the ongoing use of a single premises for the display, and the keeping for display, of animals. Permit for animals of prescribed species: Authorises the exhibition of animals of a prescribed species. Related forms: A, D and G |
| Mobile | An animal display establishment comprising premises used, on a temporary basis, for the display of the following animals, but only while the animals are displayed or kept for display at the premises: (a) animals that are the subject of an approval under section 22 of the Act, (b) animals that are the subject of a permit. | A mobile exhibitor does not have a fixed establishment for the public display of animals. A mobile exhibitor temporarily takes animals to display them in transportable enclosures at places like fairs or schools. Examples: circuses, mobile animal displays of reptiles and young farm animal petting zoos. Standards apply to the transport and display of the animals, including requirements for the public (e.g. signage, education, public safety). | Approval for animals of non-prescribed species Permit for animals of prescribed species: Authorises the exhibition of animals of a prescribed species. Related forms: B and D |
| Off-display | An animal display establishment comprising premises (including land, buildings, enclosures and facilities) used for the keeping for display of animals, but not the display of animals, that are: (a) the subject of an approval under section 22 of the Act, or (b) the subject of a permit, or (c) ordinarily exhibited at a fixed establishment. | These premises are not open to the public and animals are not displayed here. These premises are only used by exhibitors to keep animals when they are not being displayed at a fixed or mobile establishment. These include the home base premises of a mobile exhibitor. They also include a separate premises of a fixed exhibitor used for keeping animals for display at the fixed establishment, but not used for the display of animals. | Licence - off-display establishment: Authorises the ongoing use of a single premises to keep animals that are displayed elsewhere, either at a mobile establishment or a fixed establishment. Related forms: D and G |
Special requirements
Prescribed species
Related form: FORM D - Application for a permit to exhibit a prescribed species
A Permit is required before certain species of animals may be exhibited. A list of these prescribed species can be found in Schedule 2 of the Exhibited Animals Protection Regulation 2021.
Exhibitors of these species must meet particular standards because of the special nature of these prescribed species. These animals are special because they meet one or more of the following descriptions:
- Species that require specialist care and/or which pose a threat to keeper or public safety.
- Species that are subject to studbooks or cooperative conservation programs such as those conducted under the auspices of the Australasian Species Management Program of the Zoo and Aquarium Association.
Fees and charges
A lodgement fee will be charged when the application is received by the department.
The pro-rata licence fee will then be charged from the date of approval to the 30 June of that year.
| Form | Form name | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| A | Application for approval to construct an animal display establishment | $230 lodgement fee |
| B | Application for approval to exhibit animals at mobile establishments | $230 lodgement fee |
| C | Application for the transfer of an animal display establishment | $23 per application |
| D | Application for a permit to exhibit a prescribed species | $23 per application |
| E Part 1 | Application for a variation to an authority - Add a species to an Approval to exhibit animals | $23 per application |
| E Part 2 | Application for a variation to an authority - Add new presenters to an Approval to exhibit animals | $23 per application |
| E Part 3 | Application for a variation to an authority - Change representative | $23 per application |
| E Part 4 | Application for a variation to an authority - Removal of condition of authority | $23 per application |
| E Part 5 | Application for a variation to an authority - General changes | $23 per application |
| F | Application to acquire or dispose of animals of a prescribed species | $0 fee |
| G | Application for approval to construct or alter an animal enclosure or facility | $46 per application |
| H | Application to remove an animal from authorised premises | $0 fee |
Fee for a new approval/licence to exhibit animals
Pro-rata fee between 30 June each year.
| Licence type | Fee |
|---|---|
| 30 animals or less are exhibited (displayed or kept for display) | $285 |
| More than 30 animals are exhibited (displayed or kept for display) | $1035 |
Renewing your authority
Authorities are renewed annually and expire on 30 June each year. The department issues renewal paperwork for existing authority holders in the second quarter of every year.
Approval/licence renewal fees (lodgement fee + issue fee)
| Licence type | Fee |
|---|---|
| 30 animals or less are exhibited (displayed or kept for display) | $400 |
| More than 30 animals are exhibited (displayed or kept for display) | $1150 |
Submitting annual record returns
As part of the renewal process, authority holders must submit their annual record returns with their renewal paperwork.
The submission of annual record returns is a requirement under the Act and ensures the department's records are accurate. These records also facilitate the department assisting exhibitors who may be impacted by a biosecurity incident, including a zoonotic disease outbreak.
Changing authorities
Existing authority holders wanting to change their arrangements need to seek formal approval from the department (see Forms).
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Transferring your licence to a new licence holder (available to fixed establishments and off-display establishments only)
- Changing your contact people or presenters
- Adding, removing or changing the species you display
- Changing animal enclosures.