Wild Animals in Circuses Act 2019

The Wild Animals in Circuses Act 2019 is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which prohibited the use of wild animals in travelling circuses.

Wild Animals in Circuses Act 2019

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make provision to the use of wild animals in travelling ciruses
Citation	2019 c.24
Introduced by	Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Commons) Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Lords)
Territorial extent	England and Wales
Dates
Royal assent	24 July 2019[1]
Commencement	20 January 2020[2]
Status: Current legislation
History of passage through Parliament
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Wild Animals in Circuses Act 2019 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

Provisions

The provisions of the act include:

• Prohibiting the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in England. Breaching this law was made an offence punishable with a fine.^[3]
• Making provision for inspections of circuses to ensure compliance.^[4]
• Amending Section 5(2) of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 to make it apply only to Wales.^[5]

Definitions

• "Wild animals" are defined as those not commonly domesticated in Great Britain.^[3]
• Animals are "used" if they perform or are exhibited as part of the circus.^[3]

See also

• Animal acts in circuses
• Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Act 2018
• Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Act 2020