2024/04/19
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Livestock Keeping Licence

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Livestock Keeping Licence

REQUIREMENT FOR KEEPING LIVESTOCK  

Keeping of livestock and its connected activities in Hong Kong is regulated under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Licensing of Livestock keeping) Regulation, Chapter 139L. All persons keeping livestock in or on any premises within a livestock waste control area specified in Schedule 1 of Chapter 139L shall hold a Livestock Keeping Licence (LKL) issued under the same Ordinance. In order to obtain a LKL, the farmer must install appropriate waste treatment facilities that can meet minimum discharge standards as stipulated in the Waste Disposal (Livestock Waste) Regulations (Chapter 354A). A LKL also contains terms and conditions specifying requirements relating to the keeping of livestock, public health, biosecurity measure and environmental protection.  According to these ordinances, livestock farmers who fail to comply the relevant regulations may face enforcement actions.

Due to public health and environmental considerations, the Government introduced various voluntary surrender/buyout schemes from 2005 to 2008 for those livestock farmers who choose to close their poultry and pig farms.  Nevertheless, the Government continues to formulate codes of practice for those livestock farmers who choose to continue operation, and to provide technical and financial assistance to help them meet relevant biosecurity and hygiene standards. Since 2016, the Government has implemented the New Agriculture Policy. The local livestock sector can apply the Sustainable Agricultural Development Fund (the Fund) to improve and revolutionize their mode of operation and productivity. Since 2019, the Fund has been providing financial support to the industry to launch various projects, including: (a) to provide veterinary consultation services for local farms so as to improve livestock health and production plans; (b) to devise and construct an advanced and automated sewage treatment demonstration system in order to enhance sewage treatment technology for local pig farms; and (c) to commission a consultancy study to provide a general layout plan, a design brief proposal and a set of architectural design guidelines for the planning of multi-storey livestock farm, and conduct a feasibility study on the setting of a multi-storey livestock farm at a trial site.

To promote the upgrading and transformation, modernisation and sustainable development of the agriculture and fisheries industry, the Government released the Blueprint for the Sustainable Development of Agriculture and Fisheries on 14 December 2023 . The Government will join hands with the trade to progressively implement the initiatives set out in the Blueprint in accordance with the action agenda, to realise the sustainable development of the agriculture and fisheries industries, to attract young people to join the industry and to continue to provide the people of Hong Kong with quality local agricultural and fisheries products as well as employment opportunities.

 

LICENCE RENEWAL / CHANGE OF LICENSEE

A LKL is valid for 3 years. Fees are imposed according to the number of animals to be kept on the farm. If a licensee intends to continue keeping livestock, he is required to submit an Application for Renewal of Livestock Keeping Licence  (458KB)  e-Formbefore its expiry. A reminder letter regarding the renewal of LKL would be sent to the licensee no later than 4 months prior to the expiry of his LKL. A LKL would only be renewed if the farm has fulfilled all the licence terms, conditions and specified requirements relating to livestock keeping, public health, biosecurity measure and environmental protection.

Change of licensee is allowed under a valid LKL. The current licensee shall submit a Change of Licensee Form   (363KB)  e-Form iAM Smartat the office of Livestock Farm Licensing Section in person, while the new operator needs to tender a formal Livestock Keeping Licence Application Form (AF281b) (657KB)  e-Form iAM Smart. The new licensee is required to pay the full licence fee of a newly issued LKL. Upon the new LKL is issued, the old LKL would be correspondingly cancelled. In case of deceased licensee, his family member shall submit documentary proof for the death and the successor is required to tender a formal Livestock Keeping Licence Application Form (AF281b) (657KB)  e-FormiAM Smart for due processing. 

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ENQUIRY

Livestock Farm Licensing Section
Tai Lung Experimental Station, Lin Tong Mei
Sheung Shui, N.T., Hong Kong
Phone No. : (852) 2462 7443 

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