Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1954

1954 CHAPTER 46 2 and 3 Eliz 2

An Act to repeal the Animals (Anaesthetics) Act, 1919, and to extend the provisions of the Protection of Animals Acts in relation to the performance of operations on animals.

[30th July 1954]

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Act: Functions transferred (27.12.1999) by S.I. 1999/3141, art. 2(1), Sch. (with arts. 2(5), 3)

C2 Act: Functions transferred (W.)(1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch. 1

C3 Words of enactment omitted under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (c. 62), s. 3

1 Use of anaesthetics in operations on animals. E+W+S

(1) If any operation to which this section applies is performed on any animal without the use of an anaesthetic so administered as to prevent any pain during the operation, that operation shall be deemed for the purposes of the principal Act to be an operation which is performed without due care and humanity.

(2) This section applies to any operation with or without the use of instruments which involves interference with the sensitive tissues or the bone structure of an animal, other than—

(a) the making of injections or extractions by means of a hollow needle; or

(b) an operation included in the First Schedule to this Act.

(3) The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and [F1 the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales], acting jointly, may, after consultation with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and with such persons appearing to [F1 those Ministers] to represent agricultural interests as may appear to [F1 those Ministers] appropriate, by order amend any of the ages specified in paragraph 6 of the said First Schedule; and any order under this subsection—

(a) shall be made by statutory instrument, which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament; and

(b) may be varied or revoked by a subsequent order thereunder.

(4) This Act shall be construed as one with the principal Act, so, however, that in this Act the expression “animal” shall not include a fowl or other bird, fish or reptile.

(5) In this section, the expression “the principal Act” means—

(a) in relation to England and Wales, the M1 Protection of Animals Act, 1911; and

(b) in relation to Scotland, the M2 Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act, 1912;

as amended by or under any other enactment.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by S.I. 1978/272, Sch. 5 para. 5

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4 Style and title of Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries now changed to Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: S.I. 1955/554 (1955 I, p. 1200)

C5 Certain functions of Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food transferred by S.I. 1978/272, art. 2

Marginal Citations

M1 1911 c. 27.

M2 1912 c. 14.

2 Citation, repeal, extent and commencement. E+W+S

(1) This Act may be cited as the Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act, 1954.

(2) This Act and the Acts specified in Part I of the Second Schedule to this Act may be cited together as the Protection of Animals Acts, 1911 to 1954.

(3) This Act and the Acts specified in Part II of the said Second Schedule may be cited together as the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Acts, 1912 to 1954.

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2

(5) This Act shall not extend to Northern Ireland.

(6) This Act shall come into operation on the first day of September, nineteen hundred and fifty-four.

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 2(4) repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1974 (c. 22), Sch. Pt. XI

SCHEDULES

Section 1.

FIRST SCHEDULE E+W+S Excepted Operations

1 E+W+S [F3 Any procedure duly authorised under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986].

Textual Amendments

F3 Sch. 1 para. 1 substituted by Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (c. 14, SIF 4:5), s. 27(2), Sch. 3 para. 3

2 E+W+S The rendering in emergency of first aid for the purpose of saving life or relieving pain.

3 E+W+S The docking of the tail of a dog before its eyes are open.

4 E+W+S The amputation of the dew claws of a dog before its eyes are open.

5 E+W+S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4

Textual Amendments

F4 Sch. 1 para. 5 repealed by Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1964 (c. 39), s. 1(1)(2)

[F5 6 The castration of a male animal specified in the following table before it has reached the age so specified, that is to say—

bull	[F6 2 months]
sheep	3 months
goat	2 months
pig	2 months]

Textual Amendments

F5 Paras. 6, 6A substituted for para. 6 by Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1964 (c. 39), s. 1(1)(3)

F6 Words substituted by S.I. 1982/1626, art. 2

6A E+W+S The foregoing paragraph shall not apply to the castration of an animal by using a rubber ring or other device to constrict the flow of blood to the scrotum unless the device is applied within the first week of life.

7 E+W+S Any minor operation performed by a veterinary surgeon or veterinary practitioner, being an operation which, by reason of its quickness or painlessness, is customarily so performed without the use of an anaesthetic.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C6 Para. 7 amended by Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1964 (c. 39), s. 1(1)(4)

C7 Power to modify para. 7 given by Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 (c. 34), s. 5

C8 Paras. 7, 8 amended by S.I. 1980/685, art. 2

8 E+W+S Any minor operation, whether performed by a veterinary surgeon or veterinary practitioner or by some other person, being an operation which is not customarily performed only by such a surgeon or practitioner.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C9 Para. 8 amended by Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1964 (c. 39), s. 1(1)(4)

C10 Power to modify para. 8 given by Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 (c. 34), s. 5

C11 Paras. 7, 8 amended by S.I. 1980/685, art. 2

Section 2.

SECOND SCHEDULE E+W+S Acts which may be Cited Together

Part I E+W+S

The M3 Protection of Animals Act, 1911.

Marginal Citations

M3 1911 c. 27.

The M4 Protection of Animals Act (1911) Amendment Act, 1912.

Marginal Citations

M4 1912 c. 17.

The M5 Protection of Animals Act (1911) Amendment Act, 1921.

Marginal Citations

M5 1921 c. 14.

The M6 Performing Animals (Regulation) Act, 1925.

Marginal Citations

M6 1925 c. 38

The M7 Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1927.

Marginal Citations

M7 1927 c. 27.

The M8 Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) Act, 1933.

Marginal Citations

M8 1933 c. 17.

The M9 Protection of Animals Act, 1934.

Marginal Citations

M9 1934 c. 21.

The M10 Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1954.

Marginal Citations

M10 1954 c. 40.

Part II E+W+S

The M11 Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act, 1912.

Marginal Citations

M11 1912 c. 14.

The M12 Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act, 1912, Amendment Act, 1921.

Marginal Citations

M12 1921 c. 22.

The M13 Performing Animals (Regulation) Act, 1925.

Marginal Citations

M13 1925 c. 38.

The M14 Protection of Animals Act, 1934.

Marginal Citations

M14 1934 c. 21.

The M15 Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) (Scotland) Act, 1934.

Marginal Citations

M15 1934 c. 25.

The M16 Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1954.

Marginal Citations

M16 1954 c. 40.