Transporter authorisations are valid for 5 years, and a significant number are due for renewal in 2022.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is reminding all animal transporters to check the expiry date of their current transporter authorisation and apply for renewal at the earliest possible opportunity, to ensure continued authorisation.
You must have a transporter authorisation if you transport animals as part of an economic activity (a business or trade), for a distance over 65km. There are two types:
Type 1 transporter authorisation: required for journeys over 65km (approx. 40 miles) and up to 8 hours
Type 2 transporter authorisation: required for journeys over 8 hours
To apply for a Type 1 Transporter Authorisation Licence, you will need to contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Welfare in Transport Team and request an application pack.
APHA contact details are as follows: email customeradvice@apha.gov.uk; or call the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301 and choose the relevant options for APHA.
In order to apply for a Type 1 Transporter Authorisation Licence, the client must have undertaken an assessment and obtained a Certificate of Competence issued by an approved training body.
To achieve this Certificate of Competence, there are two elements to complete: a training course and an assessment.
Training can be done via an online course, accessible here https://www.lantra.co.uk/course/animal-transport-road-e-learning. Following this, LANTRA will provide a list of assessment centres to complete the next stage.
It is advised that the training is completed ahead of the assessment, so you have all the up-to-date knowledge and practical skills to be able to achieve the necessary standards to pass.
More guidance available here: Animal welfare – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
