New course for licensing inspectors receives official accreditation

The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) has announced that its joint animal establishments inspector training course, in partnership with the City of London Corporation, has been approved as meeting the City & Guilds Accreditation benchmark. From 1 October 2018, the new Licensing of Activities Involving Animals Regulations (AAL) require those carrying out inspections to be appropriately qualified. The ‘Professional Programme in Inspecting Licensable Activities Involving Animals’, a Level 3 equivalent course, has been specifically developed by animal health inspectors and education experts to address this new legal requirement. The course will provide inspectors with training to ensure the legislation, its guidance and animal welfare requirements are implemented. The course comprises an online multiple choice legislation test, before a five-day course of face to face training. These classroom days will be a combination of taught sessions and practical exercises delivered by qualified, experienced inspectors from the City of London, supported by industry experts, held at the specialised facilities at Heathrow Animal Reception Centre. Assessment is through reflective essays of completed inspection. The new regulations allow three years for existing animal licensing inspectors to undertake relevant training, with those new to the activity requiring training from 1 October 2018. The Pet Industry Federation is also developing a range of online courses for licensees to ensure they are able to meet the minimum training requirements under the new legislation. Nigel Baker, PIF CEO, said: ‘Hundreds of PIF members require licensing in order to run their pet business, and the new AAL regulations represent a brave new world that will take time for pet businesses to digest. The knowledge, therefore, that their inspections will be undertaken by individuals who possess the requisite skills and understanding derived specifically from these new AAL regulations as part of a nationally accredited course will undoubtedly provide reassurance and will help safeguard animal welfare.’ Rob Quest, assistant director at the City of London Corporation, added: ‘The City of London Corporation is delighted to have helped develop this important course with our Primary Authority partners, the Pet Industry Federation. The course equips local authority inspectors with all the training they require to undertake local authority inspections, in order to sufficiently discharge their duties under the new legislation. The badge of accreditation for this course received today from City & Guilds is important for providing a hallmark of quality, with teaching and assessment methods closely monitored to ensure standards of training are maintained’.