LONDON, March 5 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
Measures have been signed into law today (Tuesday 5 March) to ban the keeping of primates as pets.
The legislation brings in a licensing scheme setting strict rules to ensure that only private keepers who meet new welfare and licensing standards will be able to keep primates, delivering on a manifesto commitment and Action Plan for Animal Welfare pledge to provide greater legal protection for pet primates.
The measures come into force from 6 April 2026 when all primates in England will need to be kept to these zoo-level standards - in effect banning the practice of keeping primates as pets.
It is estimated that up to 5,000 primates are currently kept in d...