Guidance
Apply for a Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (WATOK) licence
Use this service to apply for a new licence or add activity codes to an existing Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (WATOK) licence.
Applies to England and Wales
Read the WATOK licence guidance to find out:
- what you can use a WATOK licence for
- when you do not need a WATOK licence
- the assessment requirements and fees for a WATOK licence
What you’ll need to apply
To apply for a new WATOK licence you’ll need to:
- provide your contact details
- upload a passport-style photograph (in JPEG format with a file size between 10KB and 250KB)
- record the activity codes for the operations and equipment you want your WATOK licence to cover
- provide the billing details of a company or organisation if they’re paying the licence fee and associated costs for the licence
To add activity codes to your existing WATOK licence, you must provide your licence number.
Apply online or update an existing licence
The service you need to use depends on if your application relates to work at a commercial pig unit.
Does not relate to work at a commercial pig unit
Select this option if you’re a knackerman, itinerant slaughterman, or hobby farmer keeping pigs or mixed livestock.
Work at a commercial pig unit
Apply for a WATOK licence: commercial pig unit
Get help
You can send an email to: CSCOneHealthWATOK@apha.gov.uk
If you’re in England, phone: 03000 200 301
If you’re in Wales, phone: 03003 038 268
Updates to this page
Published 13 March 2026