Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1954

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)

C1 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)

C2 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