Primates as pets in England

We are launching this consultation to seek your views on whether the Government should bring forward legislation to ban the keeping of primates as pets in England. A primate [1] is any member of the biological order Primates; this includes all the species commonly referred to as lemurs, monkeys and apes. Call for Evidence In October 2019 Defra launched a Call for Evidence on the Welfare of Primates as Pets, which closed in January 2020. The Call for Evidence sought evidence about the number of primates kept as pets and their welfare, how they are acquired, and how any new restrictions might apply. Defra received over 200 responses to the Call for Evidence. The summary of responses document is published alongside this consultation. The Call for Evidence provided evidence of poor welfare among many primates kept as pets in England. Many respondents stated that existing legislation does not adequately protect