Statute Details
- Title: Cattle Regulations
- Act Code: CA1964-RG1
- Type: Subsidiary legislation
- Authorising Act: Cattle Act (Chapter 34, Section 7)
- Revised Edition: Revised Edition 1990 (25th March 1992)
- Commencement (as stated): 1st January 1965
- Current status: Current version as at 26 Mar 2026
- Key sections (from extract): ss. 1–13
- Regulatory focus: Licensing conditions and operational requirements for stable and cattle-shed premises
What Is This Legislation About?
The Cattle Regulations are subsidiary legislation made under the Cattle Act. In practical terms, they set out the detailed rules that govern how licensed premises used for keeping cattle (and related animals) must be constructed, maintained, and operated. The Regulations are not about licensing policy in the abstract; rather, they translate licensing into enforceable day-to-day standards—covering everything from the physical dimensions of stables and cattle-sheds to sanitation, refuse disposal, milk storage, and disease control.
The Regulations apply to “licensed premises” that have been licensed under section 4(1) of the Cattle Act. Once a premises is licensed, the licensee must comply with the Regulations and with any additional conditions imposed by the Commissioner. The Commissioner is also given inspection powers and discretion to revoke or suspend licences for breaches, and to waive certain requirements in appropriate cases.
Overall, the Regulations aim to protect public health and animal welfare by reducing risks of contamination, infection, and unsanitary conditions. They also seek to prevent licensed cattle premises from being used as mixed residential or general commercial spaces, thereby limiting human exposure to potential hazards associated with animal keeping and milk handling.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Citation and definitions (ss. 1–2). The Regulations may be cited as the Cattle Regulations. The definitions clarify key terms such as “cattle-shed” (a building used or intended for keeping buffaloes, cows, oxen, sheep and goats), “licensee” (the person granted a licence for a place under section 4(1) of the Act), and “licensed premises” (premises licensed under section 4(1)). The definition of “stable” covers buildings used or intended for keeping horses. Importantly, a “licensed stable” or “licensed cattle-shed” includes the land appurtenant to the licensed building—meaning the regulatory perimeter is not limited to the structure itself.
Inspection and display of licence (s. 3). The Commissioner has “free access” to every part of the licensed premises at all reasonable times. This is a strong enforcement tool: it allows compliance checks without needing prior notice in most circumstances. In parallel, the licensee must keep the licence exhibited at all times in a prominent place within the premises and must produce it for inspection whenever required. For practitioners, this is a classic compliance requirement that can become evidentially important in enforcement proceedings: failure to display or produce the licence can support findings of non-compliance even where other operational issues exist.
Application requirements and what licences must state (s. 4). An application to use a place as a stable or cattle-shed must state the number of cattle to be kept and must include a plan showing the site and the extent of the land appurtenant. Once issued, the licence must state the licensee’s name, the situation of the premises, the postal address, and the number of cattle authorised to be kept. This matters because the licence becomes the benchmark for permitted capacity. If the licensee keeps more cattle than authorised, that may constitute a breach of licence conditions (and potentially the Regulations, depending on how enforcement is framed).
Physical standards: dimensions, sanitation, and construction (s. 5). Section 5 is one of the most operationally significant provisions. It requires floors to be laid with concrete or other approved impervious material and properly graded to drains. Drains must be constructed in accordance with requirements under the Building Control Act. The height of a stable or cattle-shed must not be less than 2.5 metres from floor to eaves. There must be an open space of at least 4.5 metres in width all around the stable or cattle-shed, measured from external posts at the boundary of the licensed premises.
Section 5 also prescribes minimum floor space allocations by animal type: for each horse or buffalo, at least 3 metres in length and 2 metres in breadth; for each cow or bullock, at least 3 metres in length and 1 metre in breadth; and for every 10 sheep or goats, at least 14 square metres. The floor space calculations exclude space occupied by food stores, mangers, and central or side drains. Finally, the floor surface must be at least 30 centimetres higher than the mean level of the open space. These detailed measurements indicate that the Regulations are designed to be measurable and inspectable, reducing discretion and supporting objective compliance assessment.
Wall and waste management conditions (s. 6). Walls must have smooth surfaces and rounded corners. Liquid wastes from the cattle-shed must be settled in a properly designed sedimentation tank before discharge into an approved watercourse. Ventilation must be provided to the Commissioner’s satisfaction and must be by direct communication with external air. The land appurtenant must be fenced to the Commissioner’s satisfaction.
Section 6 further requires open spaces around the stable or cattle-shed and elsewhere on the premises to be paved, metalled, or tarmacadamised and drained to the Commissioner’s satisfaction. It also mandates a paved area of not less than a specified proportion of the stable or cattle-shed floor area for washing animals (the extract appears truncated at this point, but the intent is clear: a dedicated washing area is required). A separate shed must be provided for milking, and adequate water supply must be available on the licensed premises.
Refuse removal and receptacles (s. 7). The licensee must remove trade refuse, dust sweeping, and other noxious or offensive matter as frequently as necessary to keep premises clean and wholesome. Suitable receptacles for refuse must be provided, constructed and maintained to prevent escape into the ground or into walls. The receptacle bottom must be at least 50 centimetres higher than adjoining ground, and receptacles must be covered by a roof. The Regulations also require minimum capacity: not less than 45 cubic centimetres of space per animal kept. If receptacles are mobile, they must be lined with metal plates or other impervious material. These requirements are aimed at preventing contamination and nuisance, and they create clear physical standards for enforcement.
Milk storage and hygiene (s. 8). Section 8 restricts where milk may be kept. The licensee must not keep or permit milk of cattle in any dwelling-place or room used for sleeping or cooking, or where other articles of food are kept. This is a public health measure to prevent cross-contamination and reduce risk of milk being stored in residential environments. It also requires that utensils used for milking cattle be kept clean and free from accumulation or deposit of filth or noxious matter.
Disease control (s. 9). Section 9 contains two linked obligations. First, no person suffering from cutaneous disease or any other disease that the Commissioner considers likely to pose a risk of infection or contagion may reside, be employed, or be in or upon licensed premises. Second, the licensee must immediately inform the Commissioner of any abnormal outbreak of disease of animals. This provision is important for both operational compliance and incident reporting: “immediately inform” is a strict timing requirement, and the Commissioner’s assessment of risk for human disease is expressly included.
Restriction on use of licensed premises (s. 10). Section 10 prevents licensed premises from being used as human living spaces. No licensed premises may have a living room or sleeping place for human beings. It also prohibits other trades (other than keeping cattle and trades connected with or related to cattle) from being carried on in the licensed premises without the Commissioner’s written permission. Additionally, the Commissioner may direct removal of articles, cleaning and washing of walls/floors/ceilings, and collection and disposal of rubbish. This gives the Commissioner a rapid remedial mechanism short of licence revocation.
Waiver discretion and licence enforcement (ss. 11–12). The Commissioner may waive any requirements of the Regulations at his discretion or impose additional conditions he considers fit. This flexibility can be critical in practice where strict compliance may be impracticable due to site constraints, but it also means practitioners should treat waivers and additional conditions as central to the legal compliance picture.
Section 12 provides that the licensee is bound by the Regulations and any other conditions imposed by the Commissioner. If there is a breach, the Commissioner may revoke or suspend the licence for such period as he determines. This is the core enforcement consequence clause. It also underscores that compliance is not limited to the Regulations’ text; it includes any additional conditions attached to the licence.
Licence validity and renewal (s. 13). A licence expires on 31 December next following the date of issue. The Commissioner may refuse to renew without assigning any reason. For practitioners, this is significant: renewal is not guaranteed and is subject to discretionary refusal. The absence of a requirement to provide reasons can affect how applicants plan compliance and manage renewal timelines.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Regulations are structured as a short, self-contained set of 13 sections. They begin with citation and definitions (ss. 1–2), then move to licensing administration and compliance mechanisms (ss. 3–4). The bulk of the Regulations set out substantive operational requirements for licensed premises (ss. 5–10), covering construction and sanitation, refuse disposal, milk storage and hygiene, disease restrictions, and limitations on how premises may be used. The final sections provide discretionary relief (s. 11), enforcement and licence consequences (s. 12), and the term and renewal framework (s. 13).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Regulations apply to persons who are granted licences under section 4(1) of the Cattle Act—i.e., “licensees”—and to the licensed premises used for keeping cattle or related animals. The obligations are directed primarily at the licensee, but some provisions also restrict the conduct and presence of individuals on licensed premises (notably s. 9, which restricts persons with certain diseases from residing, being employed, or being present on the premises).
In addition, the Commissioner’s powers and discretion are central to the Regulations’ operation. Compliance is therefore not only a matter of meeting the minimum technical standards; it also depends on satisfying the Commissioner’s approvals (for example, impervious materials, ventilation, fencing, drainage, and water supply) and complying with any additional conditions imposed.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
For practitioners, the Cattle Regulations are important because they provide detailed, enforceable standards that can be used in inspections, compliance audits, and regulatory enforcement. Unlike broad policy statements, the Regulations contain measurable requirements—such as minimum floor space, open space width, wall finish characteristics, sedimentation tank requirements, and refuse receptacle capacity. This makes them particularly useful in legal disputes about whether a premises was lawfully operated.
The Regulations also have practical implications for licensing strategy and risk management. Since licences specify the number of cattle authorised, and since the Regulations impose capacity-related space requirements, licensees must ensure that any increase in animal numbers is matched by compliant premises conditions and, where necessary, licensing updates. Similarly, the restrictions on human living spaces and on other trades mean that premises planning and business operations must be aligned with the regulatory purpose.
Finally, the enforcement framework—inspection access (s. 3), immediate remedial directions (s. 10), and revocation/suspension for breach (s. 12)—means that non-compliance can quickly escalate. The disease reporting obligation (s. 9) further highlights that compliance is not only structural; it includes timely communication and workforce health controls.
Related Legislation
- Cattle Act (Chapter 34), in particular section 7 (authorising the making of these Regulations) and section 4(1) (licensing of premises)
- Building Control Act (Cap. 29), for drainage construction requirements referenced in section 5
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Cattle Regulations for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.