Excellence Assured Pet Retailer Scheme Audit Standards Criteria

Transcription

1 Excellence Assured Pet Retailer Scheme Audit s Criteria PET VENDING STANDARDS 1.1 Businesses retailing live pet animals to the public must be inspected and have a licence. 1.2 The licence must be displayed and visible to members of the public. 1.3 Where a schedule of animals is listed upon the face of the licence, the type or numbers of animals stated must comply with the numbers and types of animals offered for sales If boarding animals, the business must only board those species of animals they are licensed to sell. All staff members concerned with the care of animals must be fully aware of the definitions of welfare and cruelty offences given in the Acts. ANIMAL ACQUISITION 2.1 All live animals must be obtained from sources that can be identified If pets are collected by the retailer from a breeder/wholesaler or if the premises for distances over 85km, the retailer must comply with legislation. All pets purchased must appear clinically healthy and be free from parasitic infestation by visible inspection. 2.4 All newly purchased animals must be allowed a suitable acclimatisation (rest) period before being offered for sale.

2 ANIMAL ACCOMMODATION AT THE RETAIL PREMISES 3.1 Animal Housing must be constructed of non-porous materials or treated so that it is waterproof. 3.2 Animal housing must be in good state of repair. 3.3 Signage must indicate any animals that may bite, including display only animals. 3.4 All animals must be housed in such ways that they cannot be interfered with by unsupervised public access or other animals. 3.5 When dangerous wild animals (DWAs) are kept, the enclosures must be of a secure construction. 3.6 Enclosures must be easily accessible to staff and the animals housed in them clearly visible. This applies to quarantine and isolation areas as well as the retail area. 3.7 Where accommodation is on a tiered system, water, food or faeces must not be allowed to enter the lower housing. 3.8 Accommodation must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between batches of animals as often as necessary to maintain good hygiene standards. 3.9 Shop floor must be free of any debris, clean and be disinfected daily Temperature and ventilation must be adequate for the species kept Animals housed in an environment lit by glass bulbs must be protected from the risk of broken glass All animals must be prices clearly.

3 ANIMAL CARE & HYGIENE All animals must be attended to at regular intervals, appropriate to the species, in no circumstances less than once in 24 hours. All equipment used for feeding and providing drinking water must be kept in a clean, hygienic condition. All food (excluding livefoods intended for feeding to animals on the premises) must be stored in impervious closed containers or, if appropriate, in sealed bags. All excreta and soiled bedding must be stored in impervious containers with closefitting lids or bagged and placed in a suitable container. 4.5 The area where excreta or soiled bedding is stored must be swept and clean. 4.6 Excreta and soiled bedding must be removed from the premises on a regular basis (at least weekly) and disposed of to the satisfaction of the appropriate authority. 4.7 Animal cadavers must be bagged and disposed of in accordance with legislation. 4.8 All necessary precautions must be taken to prevent the introduction to the premises or harbourage of feral rodents, insects and other pests. ANIMAL HEALTH & WELFARE 5.1 The business must retain the services of least one vet. 5.2 Sick animals must not be offered for sale. 5.3 A facility to isolate sick animals must be provided Any sick or injured animals must receive appropriate care and treatment without delay. Veterinary advice should be sought whenever necessary. Sick animals must be treated only by nominated, suitably experienced or trained staff. 5.6 Key staff must be aware of legislation on the use of vet medicines All medication intended for animals (not for resale) must be stored according to manufacturers instructions and in locked storage when not being used. All animal medicines must be in date and used for the target animal/species only. All reasonable biosecurity measures must be implemented to prevent the outbreak and spread of disease between animals. Disinfectants and other cleaning materials must be readily available.

4 ANIMALS LEAVING THE RETAIL PREMISES 6.1 Animals must be transported or handed to purchasers in suitable containers. 6.2 A sales register must be maintained for puppies, kittens and species contained in the schedule to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (as modified). 6.3 Mammals must not be sold until they are fully weaned. 6.4 Non-mammal animals must be capable of feeding themselves and be taking food. 6.5 Animals must not be sold to any person under the age of 16 years. Any refusal to sell must be recorded. 6.6 The retailer must always act in the interests of the animals they are selling. If it is considered that the welfare of the animal may be compromised they must refuse the sale and explain company policy and customer options. 6.7 Licensees selling animals on the Schedule to the Dangerous Wild Animals Act, must: a) inspect the purchaser's license or the local authority's written permission to keep such an animal; and b) inform the issuing authority of the details of the sale. 6.8 Animals covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) must be sold with relevant documentation. 6.9 Husbandry advice must be given to customers at the time of purchase. STAFF TRAINING AND ANIMAL KNOWLEDGE 7.1 In premises where the animals are sold, at least one member of staff must be studying for, or hold, a relevant Level 3 qualification, an industry recognised award or prove 'grandfather' rights. 7.2 There must be a written training policy and individual training records for all staff. 7.3 All new staff must be given induction training within the first week of employment. 7.4 Continuous training must be undertaken including training on products. 7.5 Copies of training and qualification certificates must be maintained in staff files. 7.6 No animal must be stocked unless at least one member of staff can demonstrate competency in its care. 7.7 New staff must not sell any live animal until authorised as competent by store management. 7.8 In premises where live animals are sold or kept as display only, appropriate reference material for the species must always be available for use by staff. 7.9 All new staff must be given health and safety training during the induction programme. In particular, employees must be trained in the use of any equipment prior to use.

5 HEALTH & SAFETY 8.1 Employer's liability insurance certificate must be prominently displayed (if applicable). 8.2 A valid health and safety poster must be completed and displayed. 8.3 There must be a written health and safety policy if employing more than five staff. 8.4 There must be a written emergency plan which must be on display and known to staff Premises and activities must be risk-assessed (including fire). These risk assessments must be relayed and understood by all staff. Fire fighting equipment must be provided, maintained and in good working order and easily accessible. 8.7 Fire exits must be clearly marked and access left unrestricted 8.8 The premises must comply with current legislation with regards to electricity and gas (if connected). 8.9 First aid equipment must be available, and contents in date. 8.1 Accident book must be available, filled in and stored correctly Personal protective equipment must be available for staff and be fit for use The licensee or a designated key holder must be available at all times There must be facilities for staff to wash hands after handling animals, medicines or other potentially harmful products. RETAIL PRODUCTS AND CUSTOMER CARE 9.1 All products must be clearly priced. 9.2 Where an electronic point-of-sale (EPOS) system is employed, price checks must be carried out every week. 9.3 Best before and use by dates must be observed. 9.4 Retail premises must be clean and tidy. 9.5 Where products are decanted and sold in small quantities from bulk bags customers must be able to see ingredients, batch and 'use by' dates of the specific product being sold. 9.6 Where products are decanted and sold in small quantities by weight the scales must be approved for trade, and records of checks kept. 9.7 There must be a written company complaints policy.

6 TAXA - 1 Rabbits and Rodents 1.1 All small mammals must be sexed and housed in single-sex groups (unless for sale as a breeding pair). 1.2 Animals must at all times be kept in suitably sized accommodation. 1.3 Animals must be provided with a suitable substrate in sufficient amounts. 1.4 Animals must be provided with a suitable bedding material in sufficient amounts Animals must be supplied with adequate amounts of food and clean drinking water, appropriate to the species and at suitable intervals. Suitable food and drink receptacles must be provided and positioned to avoid faecal contamination. 1.7 Rabbits, guinea pigs and degus must have free ad lib access to hay. 1.8 G pigs must have sufficient vitamin C in their diet. 1.9 All animals must be provided with place to hide Rodents must be given opportunities to gnaw Rabbits must be given suitable toys for stimulation Chinchillas and degus must be given the opportunity to use a sand bath.

7 TAXA 5 - Reptiles and Amphibians 5.1 Terrestrial and semi-aquatic animals must be provided with a suitable substrate in sufficient amounts. 5.2 Adequate heating as appropriate for the species must be provided. 5.3 Temperature of heated accommodation must be monitored. 5.4 Adequate levels of humidity as appropriate for the species must be provided. 5.5 Adequate ventilation as appropriate for the species must be provided. 5.6 Adequate lighting as appropriate for the species must be provided. 5.7 Recently imported animals from different parts of the world must not be mixed in the same enclosure. 5.8 All animals must be provided with places to hide. 5.9 Water quality of aquatic displays must be monitored. TAXA 6 - Ornamental Fish 6.1 Water quality must be assessed regularly and managed so that the criteria below are satisfied. Each centrally filtered system must be tested at least once per week. Ten per cent of individually filtered aquaria or vats must be tested weekly. 6.2 Aquaria must be checked daily and cleaned to maintain good hygiene standards. 6.3 Dead fish must be removed regularly. 6.4 Food must be offered regularly taking in to account the biology and husbandry of the species concerned. 6.5 Any aquatic plants on display or available for retail sale must be healthy. 6.6 Newly acquired fish or other organisms must be unpacked correctly by experienced and trained staff. 6.7 Directly imported organisms must be clearly marked, separated from previous held stock and rested until normal behaviour, appearance and feeding patterns have been established. 6.8 Temperature of heated systems must be monitored. 6.9 Fish that have been mutilated in their country of origin must not be offered for sale.