New law will ban people in England keeping popular animal as pet from 2026

New law will ban people in England keeping popular animal as pet from 2026

A new UK law will mean keeping monkeys at home will soon be illegal in England unless you meet specific standards. But the RSPCA says the UK Government must urgently clarify the fate of the estimated 5,000 pet monkeys currently being kept across the country, once the new rules are introduced in 2026.

The RSPCA has long campaigned for a ban on the keeping and sale of primates as pets – and believes it is “practically impossible” to meet the needs of a monkey at home. In the absence of an outright ban, this new law – which will limit who can keep primates to those meeting certain conditions – has been welcomed by the animal welfare charity.

Under the plans, it will become illegal for a primate to be kept in a home in England – unless owners meet certain licensing conditions, enforced by the local authority. The UK Government has stated that the standards will be equivalent to those required in zoos.

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David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, said: “Meeting the needs of monkeys and other primates is practically impossible to do in a household, domestic environment. Stopping the keeping of these primates as pets was a manifesto commitment from the Conservative Party – so it’s very important the UK Government is keeping this pledge.

“That’s why this legislation will be a really important moment for animal welfare – ensuring primates can only be kept in an appropriate environment, as we all strive to create a better world for every animal. Too often, our dedicated officers are called to properties where monkeys live in the wrong surroundings, eat totally inappropriate diets and are at risk of suffering behind closed doors. This new law has the potential to change that.”

Dr Ros Clubb, RSPCA head of wildlife, added: “While this new law is an important step forward, we need a clear plan from the UK Government about the potentially thousands of pet monkeys living in households across England. We need Ministers to clearly set out how the welfare needs of these monkeys will be met once the new law comes into force.”