The changes highlight that the Kennel Club’s UKAS accreditation expired on 30 May 2024 and explain the implications of this.

Section – UKAS-accredited licence holders.

A UKAS accredited body can provide a local authority with a list of the certified businesses in their area. Where notified, and were covered by confidentiality waivers, the local authority may request the UKAS accredited body’s inspection reports and can use that information to inform its own inspection. This includes using the UKAS accredited body’s assessment of compliance. The Kennel Club’s UKAS accreditation will expire on 30 May 2024, which means that members of its Assured Breeders scheme will no longer be certified from this date.

Section – Low risk

Any business that is certified by a UKAS-accredited body and has one or more years of compliance history should be considered low risk. This is because the welfare and risk management systems have been reviewed by an accredited third party. The Kennel Club’s UKAS accreditation will expire on 30 May 2024, which means that members of its Assured Breeders scheme will no longer be certified from this date.

Section – High risk 

New applicants that do not have one year of compliance history with a local authority or a UKAS-accredited body will be automatically rated as high risk. The Kennel Club’s UKAS accreditation will expire on 30 May 2024. This means that from this date, any compliance history that a member of the Kennel Club’s Assured Breeders scheme has with the Kennel Club should not be considered as part of a new application. 

Section – Risk scoring table for renewals.

Local authorities should use the risk scoring table for existing licence holders applying for a licence renewal who are not certified by a UKAS-accredited body. The Kennel Club’s UKAS accreditation will expire on 30 May 2024, which means that members of its Assured Breeders scheme will no longer be certified from this date. 

Section – Higher standards

If a scheme uses UKAS accredited certification, it will be operated against either the minimum or higher standards as set out in the scheme criteria and as agreed with UKAS. The Kennel Club’s UKAS accreditation will expire on 30 May 2024. This means that from this date, members of its Assured Breeders scheme will no longer be automatically certified as meeting any of the higher standards for dog breeding. 

The Animal activity licensing process: statutory guidance for local authorities document can be found here - Animal activity licensing process: statutory guidance for local authorities - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

A summary of the changes can be found here: Right click here. Animal activities licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)