FEDERATION OF BRITISH HERPETOLOGISTS CODES OF PRACTICE
For retailers, wholesalers & importers.
January 2003
The Aims
The purposes of this Code of Practice are:
• To promote responsible ownership of reptiles and amphibians.
• To increase awareness of welfare issues.
• To better educate both staff and customers.
• To simplify complaints procedure and provide a conciliation service.
INDEX
1. Code of Practice, for retailers, wholesalers & importers. General points
2. Livestock
Receipt of animal livestock from wholesaler or import facility
3. Retail Sale of Animal Livestock
4. Code of Conduct for Importers
CITES
EC Wildlife Trade Regulations
5. Unpacking Imported Livestock
Sales and Movement of Livestock
6. Routine care of Livestock
This section applies to all establishments holding livestock.
7. Health and Safety at Work
General
Staff
Out of Hours
Use of Medicines
8. Stocking Densities
9. Sale of Goods Act and Supply of Goods and Services Act
Pricing
Complaints
Acknowledgments
1. Code of Practice for Retailers
General points
Members:
1.1 Should display the FBH logo and Customer Charter in an appropriate, and prominent site in their retail sales area. Arrangements should be made to allow members of the public to view the Code of Practice, by appointment, at an agreed time.
1.2 Should make available to all new livestock customers the FBH care booklet “A Guide to Starting with Reptiles and Amphibians”. This booklet free is of charge to all wholesalers and retailers.
1.3 Must be in possession of a current Pet Shop Licence. It is an offence under the Pet Animals Act 1951 Section 1(7) to trade without one.
2. Livestock
Receipt of animal livestock from wholesaler or import facility
2.1 Reptiles and amphibians should be carefully unpacked at the place of destination using all reasonable practicable means to reduce the stress which may be experienced by them during the procedure.
2.2 Newly imported livestock should be separated from previously held stock, clearly marked and rested for a minimum of 48 hours before resale.
2.3 Materials used in packing should either be disposed of hygienically or, if to be reused, disinfected appropriately.
2.4 Where appropriate, a normal feeding and behavioural pattern should be established
prior to retail sale.
2.5 When housing reptiles and amphibians due regard should be paid to the physical, biological and behavioural needs of each species.
2.6 Reasonable precautions must be taken to prevent the outbreak and spread of diseases. This may include thorough cleansing of vivaria prior to introduction of new inhabitants.
2.7 Animals showing overt clinical signs of disease should be treated appropriately. The individuals involved should be isolated and removed from public view. Veterinary consultation should be sought where necessary.
2.8 Records of animals purchased should be maintained.
2.9 Records of mortalities should be maintained and related, where practicable, to the shipment from which they originated.
3. Retail Sale of Animal Livestock
3.1 All livestock sold should be in good health as far as can be reasonably determined without veterinary inspection.
3.2 No animal with an obvious significant abnormality, which would seriously reduce its quality of life, should be offered for sale. If in doubt, veterinary advice should be sought.
3.3 Animals should be handled in such a way as to minimise the stress induced and ensure no physical damage occurs to the animal.
3.4 Every reasonable effort should be made to ensure that the customer purchases livestock suitable for the environment for which it is intended. Due regard should be given to the experience of the customer when offering advice.
3.5 A full range of books for reference should be available.
3.6 Particular attention should be paid to informing the customers of the risks associated with any potentially harmful or venomous species (where stocked). This information should include written First Aid procedures if deemed appropriate.
3.7 Livestock should be packed in containers suitable for the journey to be undertaken to ensure they arrive in good health. Animals should, where appropriate, be packed separately.
3.8 After sales advice should be offered to customers who purchase livestock.
3.9 Accurate instructions on the care and welfare of the animal purchased should, where appropriate, be given to the customer at the time of sale.
3.10 No animal should be sold to any person under the age of sixteen years who is unknown to the licensee, unless that person is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or provides appropriate written consent.
3.11 The retailer should be able to provide details of a veterinary surgeon experienced with the treatment of reptiles and amphibians.
4. Code of Conduct for Importers
International Movement of Livestock
Packing and Exporting
Importers should be able to demonstrate that they have taken positive steps to ensure that packers and exporters follow the guidelines given below:
4.1 Livestock should be packed in a manner which complies with the current IATA Live Animal Regulations. Due regard should be given to behavioural characteristics of the species concerned.
Labelling
4.2 The contents of each box in a shipment should display an external label giving the following information:-
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Consignor – name and address.
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ii. Consignee – name, address and out-of-hours contact telephone number.
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iii. Date and time of packing and dispatch.
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iv. Airport, or port-of-destination, and route.
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v. Required temperature range.
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vi. A note of any livestock hazardous to humans.
In addition the accepted scientific names (and local common names) of species should be enclosed or available in an accompanying document.
4.3 No livestock should be dispatched unless in direct response to an order that has been
received.
4.4 Forty-eight hours notice should be given by the consignor to the consignee of the estimated time of the shipment.
4.5 Animals from the wild should have been collected using legal, ethical techniques which do not damage the ecosystem. Furthermore, animals from the wild should be from managed, sustainable resources where available.
4.6 No animals showing overt signs of disease should be dispatched.
Carrying
4.7 No carrier or agent should accept a consignment of livestock for which no documentary evidence of an order is available.
4.8 IATA Live Animal Regulations must be followed, especially with regard to the rapid discharge of the cargo.
4.9 Unpacking during the journey should be avoided, if reasonably practical, and should only be undertaken to benefit the welfare of the animals, or for statutory purposes.
General Responsibilities
The importer (or agent) should also assume the following responsibilities:
4.10 The importer must accept primary responsibility for any consignment ordered after it has been dispatched in good faith, and having left the country of origin, under all circumstances. Late arrival of shipments, for any reason, does not absolve an importer from this responsibility.
4.11 The importer, or their representative, should make all efforts to hasten the clearance of the consignment and transport to its destination.
4.12 The journey should be completed by a means and in circumstances that do not prejudice the well-being of the animals.
4.13 Should a shipment be abandoned, then the importer's freight agent should make him or herself responsible for alerting the FBH by telephone, fax or e-mail.
4.14 A record of all animals imported and sold should be maintained. This may be achieved by retention of orders and invoices.
4.15 Transport packages should not be opened until they have arrived at their destination, except where the survival of the livestock is threatened.
CITES
4.16 When importing CITES-listed species the appropriate import and export permits should be obtained. Details of the imports permit (i.e. Permit number or photocopy of the original) should be provided for the purchaser upon request.
EC Wildlife Trade Regulations
4.17 The necessary import permit (Annex B species) or import declaration (Annex D species) should be available, as appropriate, to both authorities and customers. The supplier of Annex B species should take positive steps to satisfy themselves that their intended customers are able to care for the specimens properly.
5. Unpacking Imported Livestock
5.1 Livestock should be unpacked promptly on arrival.
5.2 Where appropriate, suitably trained or experienced staff should be available during
unpacking.
5.3 Livestock showing overt signs of distress, injury or disease should be treated as appropriate. This may require affected individuals to be isolated and veterinary consolation may be required. Livestock thus affected should not be sold or displayed on public view.
5.4 Reasonable precautions must be taken to prevent the outbreak and spread of disease.
5.5 Records of disease, treatments and mortalities should be maintained.
5.6 Materials used in packing should either be disposed of hygienically or, if they are to be reused, disinfected appropriately.
5.7 A record of animals bought and sold, including source and destination, should be maintained. This may be in the form of invoices and orders.
Sale and Movement of Livestock
5.8 Newly imported livestock should be separated from previously held stock, clearly marked and rested for a minimum of 48 hours before resale.
5.9 A careful visual examination of livestock should be undertaken prior to sale. All stock sold should be in good health as far as can reasonably be determined without veterinary inspection.
Livestock should be transported to the retailer by the quickest reasonably practical means.
5.10 Packing must take account of the prevailing climatic conditions, the behavioural characteristics of the animals, as well as the travelling duration.
5.11 Complaints from retailers should be dealt with promptly, courteously and sympathetically. In the event that a dispute cannot be settled, then the matter may be referred to the FBH.
5.12 The transporter should be provided with details of the consignee, the consignor and the out-of-hours contact number for both.
6. Routine care of Livestock
This section applies to all establishments holding livestock.
6.1 Animals shall at all times be kept in accommodation that is adequate in terms of size, construction and amenities.
6.2 Conditions suited to the physiological, biological and behavioural requirements of the
species should be provided at all times.
6.3 Vivaria should be sited so that visual inspections are easily carried out.
6.4 Vivaria should be checked daily and cleaned as often as is necessary to maintain good hygiene standards. Particular attention should be paid to the removal of uneaten food and mortalities.
6.5 Livestock should, as far as is reasonably practical, be displayed in a manner which precludes interference from unauthorised persons.
6.6 Food should be offered as appropriate to the requirements of the individual species. Clean drinking water is a requirement of the vast majority of reptiles and amphibians (with a few notable exceptions), and should be available at all times. Where appropriate, the water vessel should be large enough for the animal to bathe.
7. Health and Safety at Work
General
7.1 It is of the highest priority that as safe an environment as is reasonably practical is maintained for both staff and customers. Note should be taken of all relevant legislation, but particularly the Health and safety at Work Act 1974 (HASAWA 1974).
7.2 Particular care should be taken to ensure that:
i. Emergency evacuation procedures are known to all staff.
ii. Fire-fighting equipment is regularly maintained and its location and mode of operation is known to all staff.
iii. Entrances and exits are kept clear and are clearly marked.
Staff
7.3 Staff should be made aware of procedures in the following areas:-
i. Basic First Aid and, where appropriate, the use of an Accident Record Book.
ii. Hazardous and, where stocked, venomous species.
iii. Zoonoses, i.e. diseases which can be passed from animals to humans. It has been shown that the risk of zoonoses from reptiles (principally Salmonellosis) can be virtually eliminated by enforcing basic hygiene procedures. If is essential to reinforce this message to staff and customers alike.
iv. Emergency procedures e.g. Fire-fighting.
7.4 In addition, staff should be encouraged to increase their knowledge and experience and so enhance the quality of information they supply to customers.
7.5 No animal should be stocked unless at least one member of staff is familiar with its care and welfare.
Out of Hours
7.6 The licensee, or a designated key-holder, must at all times be within reasonable distance of the premises in order that they can attend in case of emergency.
7.7 A list of key-holders, with their addresses and telephone numbers, must be lodged with the local police and fire brigade.
7.8 An emergency telephone number must be displayed at the front of the premises (this may be 999).
7.9 When retail outlets are sited within other premises, the licensee (or key-holder) must at all times have access to the premises at which the livestock is held.
Use of Medicines
7.10 Reptiles and amphibians are covered by the Veterinary Surgeons Act and diagnosis and treatment of disease must, therefore, be carried out by a qualified veterinary surgeon.
8. Stocking Densities
8.1 The FBH fully endorses the stocking densities recommended by the Pet Care Trust.
8.2 For lizards, terrestrial and semi-terrestrial newts, salamanders and other tailed amphibians the display accommodation should be of the following dimensions:
i. Minimum length 45 cm (18in)
ii. Minimum depth 25cm (10in)
iii. Minimum height 25cm (10in)
The number of animals stocked should not exceed:
Length of animal max. stocking density
Up to 5cm (2in) 25
Over 5cm (2in) up to 10cm (4in) 15
Over 10cm (4in) up to 15cm (6in) 8
Over 15cm (6in) 4
8.3 For terrapins, terrestrial and semi-terrestrial frogs, toads, tree-frogs and other tailless amphibians the display accommodation should be of the following dimensions:
i. Minimum length 45 cm (18in)
ii. Minimum depth 25cm (10in)
iii. Minimum height 25cm (10in)
The number of animals stocked should not exceed:
Length of animal max. stocking density
Up to 3cm (1.2in) 20
Over 3cm (1.2in) up to 5cm (2in) 10
Over 5cm (2in) up to 10cm (4in) 4
8.4 For snakes display accommodation should be of the following dimensions:
i. Length (minimum) 2/3 length of snake
ii. Width (min) 15cm (6in) or 5x diameter of snake
iii. Height (min) 10cm (4in) or 4x diameter of snake, arboreal species 1/3 length of snake
8.5 Labelled nursery or isolation units – minimum size 22x10x10 cm (9x4x4 in)
9. Sale of Goods Act and Supply of Goods and Services Act
9.1 All transactions should be conducted within the terms of these Acts.
9.2 The goods should be of merchantable quality, properly described and fit for the purpose.
9.3 If a customer makes a purchase against the member's advice he should be warned at the time of purchase that his rights under the Act might be limited. The retailer may refuse a sale on welfare grounds.
9.4 Full and clear information must be given, upon request, regarding goods, services and livestock.
9.5 All services provided must be undertaken with reasonable care and skill and, unless a specific scale has been agreed beforehand, within a reasonable time.
9.6 The customer must be prepared to pay a reasonable charge.
9.7 A customer cannot query a price which has been agreed beforehand.
9.8 The Supply of Goods and Services Act does not apply in Scotland, but similar provisions exist under common law.
Pricing
9.9 Misleading price offers must not be used.
9.10 Discounts offered should be based on fair comparisons.
9.11 Any credit facilities offered must be clearly stated in writing and members must abide by the terms of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Members are reminded that a licence may be required.
Complaints
9.12 The member will make every effort to resolve any dispute between himself and the customer.
9.13 All staff must be suitably trained to deal with complaints, but should difficulties arise, the matter should be referred to a senior member of staff.
9.14 At all times the person dealing with the complaint should adopt a courteous manner, act with tact and handle the problem sympathetically. The problem should be settled speedily, if at all possible.
If the complaint cannot be resolved the following procedures are available:
i. Local advice.
ii. Both the member and the customer have the right to contact the Trading Standards Department or the Citizens Advice Bureau.
iii. Conciliation service.
If there is no agreement the FBH can be asked to offer a conciliation service, for which there will be charge.
Acknowledgments:
We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of OATA and the Pet Care Trust in the preparation of this Code of Practice.
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