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Section 62: General interpretation

Animal Welfare Act 2006 · 2006 c. 45View on legislation.gov.uk

In this Act—

  • "animal" has the meaning given by section 1(1);

  • "appropriate national authority" means—

    (a)in relation to England, the Secretary of State;

    (b)in relation to Wales, the National Assembly for Wales;

  • "enactment" includes an enactment contained in subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30));

  • "licence" means a licence for the purposes of section 13;

  • "local authority" means—

    (a)in relation to England, a county council, a district council, a London borough council, the Common Council of the City of London or the Council of the Isles of Scilly;

    (b)in relation to Wales, a county council or a county borough council;

  • "premises" includes any place and, in particular, includes—

    (a)any vehicle, vessel, aircraft or hovercraft;

    (b)any tent or movable structure;

  • "protected animal" has the meaning given by section 2;

  • ' "suffering" means physical or mental suffering and related expressions shall be construed accordingly;

  • "veterinary surgeon" means a person registered in the register of veterinary surgeons, or the supplementary veterinary register, kept under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (c. 36).

In this Act, references to the occupier of premises, in relation to any vehicle, vessel, aircraft or hovercraft, are to the person who appears to be in charge of the vehicle, vessel, aircraft or hovercraft, and "unoccupied" shall be construed accordingly.

In this Act, references to a part of premises which is used as a private dwelling include any yard, garden, garage or outhouse which is used for purposes in connection with it.

In this Act, references to responsibility, in relation to an animal, are to be read in accordance with section 3.

In this Act, references to the needs of an animal are to be read in accordance with section 9(2).

In this Act, references to a "relevant post-conviction power" are to a power conferred by—

section 33, 34, 37 or 42 of this Act,
section 4(2) of the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 (c. 38) (power to remove name from register under Act and disqualify from registration),
section 5(3) of the Pet Animals Act 1951 (c. 35) (power to cancel licence under Act and disqualify from carrying on licensable activity),
section 3(3) of the Animal Boarding Establishments Act 1963 (c. 43) (provision corresponding to that mentioned in paragraph (c) above),
section 4(3) of the Riding Establishments Act 1964 (c. 70) (further corresponding provision),
section 3(4) of the Guard Dogs Act 1975 (c. 50) (power to cancel licence under Act),
section 6(2) of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (c. 38) (power to cancel licence under Act and disqualify from carrying on licensable activity), or
section 4(4) of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (c. 37) (power to refuse licence under Act for conviction for an offence).

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.