Livestock Keeping Licence

RELEVANT ORDINANCES

The Public Health (Animals and Birds) Ordinance (Chapter 139), which was enacted in 1950 and amended in 1994 to make provision relating to the regulation of livestock keeping and connected activities.

APPLICATION

Any person who plans to keep livestock (including pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, and pigeons) in a livestock waste control area must apply for a Livestock Keeping Licence from the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department (AFCD). The applicant is required to submit a preliminary application (Form No. AF 281a) to the Licence Office, Livestock Farm Division at Tai Lung Experimental Station, Lin Tong Mei, Sheung Shui, N.T. within one week from the date of this form being issued otherwise the applicant will need to re-apply again. An initial screening process will be conducted based on the location of the farm and the document provided by the applicant. Upon the passing of the initial screening process, a formal application (Form No. AF281b) which requires more detailed information about the farm will be required for further processing the livestock keeping licence.

BASIC LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

To obtain a Livestock Keeping Licence, an applicant is required to install a proper waste treatment system and to take necessary measures to minimize the environmental nuisance caused by the livestock keeping activity as well as to take biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of animal disease. For application for poultry farm, the farm must be at least 500 metres from any existing poultry farms.

LICENCE CONDITIONS

A Licence will be granted with terms and conditions specifying requirements relating to livestock keeping, public health, biosecurity measure and environmental protection as the Director may think fit to impose. The Licence is normally valid for a period of 3 years beginning on the date it is granted or renewed. Fees are imposed according to the number of animals to be kept on the farm.

PROCESSING TIME

Application processing time depends fully on the cooperation of the applicant in particular on how soon the applicant can provide all required documents/information and how soon the applicant can install waste treatment facilities meeting licensable standards as well as how well the applicant can take the biosecurity measures in his farm. Normally, a Licence should be issued within 6 months from the date of initial application.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

In order to obtain a Livestock Keeping Licence, the applicant needs to come Licence Office at Tai Lung Experimental Farm to collect a preliminary application (Form No. AF 281a). An initial screening process will be conducted by the licence office and the applicant will be informed at the time whether the location where he applied for is qualified for keeping livestock. If yes, he will be provided with a dated preliminary application form which is required to be completed including the following information within one week from the date of this form issued:-

• Documents in relation to Ex-gratia Allowance or Capital Grant;
• Government land licences/STT if the premises under application are on government land;
• Letter of approval if the premises under application are on private agricultural land;
• For tenant of private agricultural land, a written consent from land owner permitting use of the premises under application for livestock keeping. If a written consent cannot be obtained, the applicant must state the reason.

ENQUIRY

Livestock Farm Division
Tai Lung Experimental Station, Lin Tong Mei
Sheung Shui, N.T., Hong Kong
Phone No. : 2462 7443