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Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986

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Point in time view as at 01/02/1991.

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Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 13 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

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SCHEDULES

Sections 2, 6. 7, 10, 15(1) and 18(3).

SCHEDULE 1E+W+SStandard Methods of Humane Killing

methodAnimals for which appropriate
A. Animals other than foetal, larval and embryonic forms
1. Overdose of anaesthetic suitable for the species—
(i) by injection(i) All animals.
(ii) by inhalation(ii) All animals up to 1 kg bodyweight except reptiles, diving birds and diving mammals.
(iii) by immersion.(iii) Fishes Amphibia up to 250 g bodyweight.
(Followed by destruction of the brain in cold-blooded vertebrates and by exsanguination or by dislocation of theneck in warm blooded vertebrates except where rigor mortis has been confirmed).

2. Dislocation of the neck.

(Followed by destruction of the brain in fishes).

Rodents up to 500g bodyweight other than guinea-pigs.
Guinea-pigs and lagomorphs up to 1 kg bodyweight.
Birds up to 3 kg bodyweight.
Fishes up to 250g bodyweight.

3. Concussion by striking the back of the head.

(Followed by exsanguination or dislocation of the neck in rodents and birds and destruction of the brain in fishes).

Rodents up to 1 kg bodyweight.
Birds up to 250 g bodyweight.
Fishes.
4. Decapitation followed by destruction of the brain.Cold-blooded vertebrates.
5. Exposure to carbon dioxide in a rising concentration using a suitable technique followed byexsanguination or by dislocation of the neck except where rigor mortis has been confirmed.Rodents over 10 days of age up to 1 1/2 kg bodyweight.
Birds over 1 week of age up to 3 kg bodyweight.
B. Foetal, larval and embryonic forms
1. Overdose of anaesthetic suitable for the species—
(i) by injection(i) All animals.
(ii) by immersion.(ii) Fishes Amphibia.
2. Decapitation.Mammals.

Sections 7 and 10.

SCHEDULE 2U.K. ANIMALS TO BE OBTAINED ONLY FROM DESIGNATED BREEDING OR SUPPLYING ESTABLISHMENTS

Mouse

Rat

Guinea-pig

Hamster

Rabbit

Dog

Cat

Primate

Valid from 05/09/1998

Section 10(2A).

[F1SCHEDULE 2AU.K. ARTICLE 8 OF COUNCIL DIRECTIVE No. 86/609/EEC

Textual Amendments

F1Sch. 2A inserted (5.9.1998) by S.I. 1998/1974, reg. 2, Sch. para. 6

F21U.K.All experiments shall be carried out under general or local anaesthesia.

Textual Amendments

F32U.K.Paragraph 1 above does not apply when:

(a)anaesthesia is judged to be more traumatic to the animal than the experiment itself;

(b)anaesthesia is incompatible with the object of the experiment. In such cases appropriate legislative and/or administrative measures shall be taken to ensure that no such experiment is carried out unnecessarily.

Textual Amendments

F43U.K.If anaesthesia is not possible, analgesics or other appropriate methods should be used in order to ensure as far as possible that pain, suffering, distress or harm are limited and that in any event the animal is not subject to severe pain, distress or suffering.

Textual Amendments

F54U.K.Provided such action is compatible with the object of the experiment, an anaesthetised animal, which suffers considerable pain once anaesthesia has worn off, shall be treated in good time with pain-relieving means or, if this is not possible, shall be immediately killed by a humane method.]

Textual Amendments

Section 27(2).

SCHEDULE 3U.K. CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS

1U.K.In section 1(3) of the M1Protection of Animals Act 1911 for the words “the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876” there shall be substituted the words “the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986”.

Marginal Citations

2U.K.In section 1(3) of the M2Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912 for the words “the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876” there shall be substituted the words “the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986”.

Marginal Citations

3U.K.In paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the M3Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1954 for the words “Any experiment duly authorised under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876” there shall be substituted the words “Any procedure duly authorised under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986”.

Marginal Citations

4U.K.In section 12 of the M4Pests Act 1954 for the words “any experiment duly authorised under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876” there shall be substituted the words “any procedure duly authorised under the Animals (Scoentific Procedures) Act 1986”.

Marginal Citations

5U.K.In section 19(4)(a) of the M5Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 for the words “any experiment duly authorised under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876” there shall be substituted the words “any procedure duly authorised under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986”.

Marginal Citations

6U.K.In section 1(2A)(b) of the M6Slaughter of Poultry Act 1967 for the words “an experiment in respect of which restrictions are imposed by the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, being an experiment performed subject to any restrictions so imposed” there shall be substituted the words “a procedure duly authorised under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986”.

Marginal Citations

7U.K.In section 1(2) of the M7Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 for the words “the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876” there shall be substituted the words “the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986”.

Marginal Citations

8U.K.In sections 1(2) and 15(a) of, and paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to, the M8Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 for the words “the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876” there shall be substituted the words “the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986”.

Marginal Citations

9In section 8(3) of the M9Badgers Act 1973 for the words from “something done” onwards there shall be substituted the words “doing anything which is authorised under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986”.

Marginal Citations

10U.K.In section 5(4) of the M10Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 for the words “registered pursuant to the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 for the purpose of performing experiments” there shall be substituted the words “which is a designated establishment within the meaning of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986”.

Marginal Citations

Section 27(4).

SCHEDULE 4U.K. TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Extent Information

E1In its application to Northern Ireland, this Schedule has effect subject to the modifications set out in s. 29, see s. 29(1)

Existing licencesU.K.

1U.K.Any licence which immediately before the coming into force of section 3 of this Act is in force under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 (in this Schedule referred to as “the previous Act”) shall until such date as it would have expired under that Act be treated for the purposes of this Act as if it were a personal licence.

Current experimentsU.K.

2(1)Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, any experiment or series of experiments which is lawfully in progress under the previous Act immediately before the coming into force of section 3 of this Act shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as authorised by a project licence.U.K.

(2)The Secretary of State may direct that sub-paragraph (1) above shall cease to have effect on such date as he may specify; and different dates may be specified in relation to different cases.

Existing certificatesU.K.

3U.K.A person shall not by virtue of paragraphs 1 or 2 above be entitled to do anything which would have been unlawful under the previous Act without such a certificate as is mentioned in paragraph (2) or (3) of the proviso to section 3 of that Act or in section 5 of that Act unless immediately before the coming into force of section 3 of this Act he holds the appropriate certificate under that Act.

Registered premisesU.K.

4U.K.Until such date as the Secretary of State may direct there shall be treated as a designated scientific procedure establishment for the purposes of this Act any place registered under the previous Act or approved by the Secretary of State.

InspectorsU.K.

5U.K.Any person who at the coming into force of section 18 of this Act holds office as an inspector under the previous Act shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as an inspector appointed under that section.

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