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Posted: 7th April 2026

New primate regulations come into force
The new regulations came into effect on 6 April.
RSPCA warns many primates could be abandoned.

The RSPCA has warned that up to 5,000 primates could be at risk of abandonment, after new regulations came into effect yesterday (6 April).

Under the Primate Licences law, all private primate keepers must hold a valid licence. They must also ensure animals are kept in conditions which meet their complex welfare needs.

However, data from Born Free, the wildlife charity, suggested that there has been a limited uptake of licences to date.

Meanwhile, the RSPCA recorded 238 reports of primate neglect and cruelty between 2021 and 2025. This includes preventable health problems, which occur due to poor diet and a lack of natural light, as well as a difficulty in accessing specialist vet care.

The charity believes that, should this trend continue, many animals will be kept illegally or in secret in unsuitable conditions. It warns that some animals could even be abandoned by keepers seeking a quick escape from the regulations.

It is now urging those keeping a primate without a licence to contact their local authority as soon as possible and seek guidance to become compliant with the new laws.

Evangeline Button, senior scientific and policy officer for the RSPCA, said: “The introduction of primate licenses in England is an important step forward for animal welfare, helping to ensure these animals are kept in more appropriate conditions, but there is still a real concern about what happens next for the thousands of primates currently being kept as pets.
 
“It is now a legal requirement for anyone keeping a primate to hold a licence and to meet strict welfare standards. Anyone who has not obtained a licence may be committing an offence and should seek urgent advice from their local authority.”

She added: “Ultimately we believe primates should not be kept as pets. We want to see a future where monkeys are no longer kept in homes, but protected in environments that truly meet their needs.”

More information about the regulations can be found on the government website.

Image © chrisdorney/Shutterstock



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