You need an animal dealer (live bird) licence, a type of biodiversity conservation licence granted under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, to buy, sell or trade (deal in) live native birds for commercial purposes.
Under the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water policy on the commercial trade of native animals, only pet shops are eligible for an animal dealer licence. A pet shop is defined as a premises used for the retail sale of animals to the public, excluding residential premises.
Pet shops dealing in native birds must be registered with the department – when you apply for a licence you must nominate the premises you intend to use for dealing. If you are granted a licence, you will receive a registration certificate for each of the premises associated with your licence.
Under an animal dealer (live bird) licence, pet shops may only deal in particular species. View the bird species that can be traded by an animal dealer.
The dealing of native birds as part of a commercial business is not permitted under a bird keeper licence.
Apply for a licence
To apply for an animal dealer (live bird) licence to commercially trade in birds you will need to first contact the Wildlife Team who will send you an application form to complete. The licence term is 1 year and will cost $600 including a single registered premises – there is a $300 fee for each additional premises to be registered under the licence.
A pre-licence premises inspection is required to commercially trade in native birds. You and (and your employees operating under the licence) must be able to demonstrate capacity to comply with the conditions of an animal dealer (live bird) licence and the requirements of relevant statutory provisions including, but not limited to:
- the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water commercial trade of native animals policy
- the Department of Primary Industries Animal Welfare Code of Practice – Animals in Pet Shops
- the Department of Primary Industries Animal Welfare Code of Practice No 4 – Keeping and Trading of Birds
- local government planning codes.
Comply with licence conditions
When you hold a licence to deal in native animals you must comply with the conditions of an animal dealer (live bird) licence (PDF 55KB).
The licence includes the following conditions:
- Animals may only be bought from persons licensed to keep them.
- When selling species that require a keeper's licence, the customer's licence must be sighted and their details recorded.
- Records of all animals held must be maintained and submitted to the Wildlife Team on an annual basis, including records of:
- the species and number of animals acquired, disposed of or moved
- the date and method of acquisition, disposal or movement of animals
- the name and licence number of persons from whom animals are bought or sold.
- Dealers must accept returns of unwanted or unhealthy animals no longer wanted by a customer. This requirement must be displayed at each registered premises in a conspicuous location.
- Dealers must comply with the enclosure size and equipment requirements specified on their licence.
Licensed dealers must also comply with the Animal Welfare Code of Practice – Animals in Pet Shops and Animal Welfare Code of Practice No 4 – Keeping and Trading of Birds.
Renewals
On the expiration of your licence the onus is on you to renew. While the department forwards licence renewal notices to licensees, it will not be responsible for the non-receipt of such a notice.
Renewals cost $600 (including a single registered premises) for 1 year with a $300 fee for each additional premises.
Renewal of your licence is dependent upon submission of your annual records.
Native bird species that can be traded in New South Wales
The commercial trade of native animals policy allows 47 bird species to be traded by licensed animal dealers in addition to the 41 bird species that may be kept and traded without a licence.
In the species list tables, (E) = species that can be kept and traded without a licence.