To ban or not?
Arguments in favour
Keeping primates in homes is incompatible with their needs
Most people don't have the knowledge to care for them properly
Primates have a high capacity to suffer
Keeping primates creates public health risks
Has a negative impact on conservation efforts
Arguments against
Current legislation is adequate to ensure animal welfare
Banning primates might lead to restrictions on owning other exotic species
Ban would be expensive and impossible to enforce
A ban would force pet primate websites overseas, out of reach of UK authorities
Ownership would be driven underground and would be even more detrimental to animal welfare