The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Appropriate Methods of Humane Killing) Order 1996

Statutory Instruments

1996 No. 3278

ANIMALS

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Appropriate Methods of Humane Killing) Order 1996

Made

16th December 1996

Laid before Parliament

16th January 1997

Coming into force

1st March 1997

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986(1), hereby makes the following Order:

1.  This Order may be cited as the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Appropriate Methods of Humane Killing) Order 1996 and shall come into force on 1st March 1997.

2.  For Schedule 1 to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 there shall be substituted the Schedule set out in the Schedule to this Order.

Tom Sackville,

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

Home Office

16th December 1996

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

SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE 1 APPROPRIATE METHODS OF HUMANE KILLING

1.   Subject to paragraph 2 below, the methods of humane killing listed in Tables A and B below are appropriate for the animals listed in the corresponding entries in those tables only if the process of killing is completed by one of the methods listed in sub-paragraphs (a) to (f) below:

(a) confirmation of permanent cessation of the circulation

(b) destruction of the brain

(c) dislocation of the neck

(d) exsanguination

(e) confirming the onset of rigor mortis

(f) instantaneous destruction of the body in a macerator.

2.   Paragraph 1 above does not apply in those cases where Table A specifies one of the methods listed in that paragraph as an appropriate method of humane killing.

A. Methods for animals other than foetal, larval and embryonic forms	Animals for which appropriate
1.   Overdose of an anaesthetic using a route and an anaesthetic agent appropriate for the size and species of animal.	All animals
2.   Exposure to carbon dioxide gas in a rising concentration.	Rodents, Rabbits and Birds up to 1.5 kg
3.   Dislocation of the neck.	Rodents up to 500g Rabbits up to 1 kg Birds up to 3 kg
4.   Concussion of the brain by striking the cranium.	Rodents and Rabbits up to 1 kg Birds up to 250g Amphibians and reptiles (with destruction of the brain before the return of consciousness) up to 1 kg Fishes (with destruction of the brain before the return of consciousness)
5.  (2) One of the recognised methods of slaughter set out below which is appropriate to the animal and is performed by a registered veterinary surgeon, or, in the case of the methods described in paragraph (ii) below, performed by the holder of a current licence granted under the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995. (i) Destruction of the brain by free bullet, or (ii) captive bolt, percussion or electrical stunning followed by destruction of the brain or exsanguination before return of consciousness.	Ungulates

B. Methods for foetal, larval and embryonic forms	Animals for which appropriate
1.   Overdose of an anaesthetic using a route and anaesthetic agent appropriate for the size, stage of development and species of animal.	All animals
2.   Refrigeration, or disruption of membranes, or maceration in apparatus approved under appropriate slaughter legislation, or exposure to carbon dioxide in near 100% concentration until they are dead.	Birds Reptiles

Methods for foetal, larval and embryonic forms	Animals for which appropriate
3.   Cooling of foetuses followed by immersion in cold tissue fixative.	Mice, Rats and Rabbits
4.   Decapitation.	Mammals and Birds up to 50g.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Schedule 1 to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 sets out, for the purposes of the Act, the standard methods of humane killing. This Order revises that Schedule. A full explanation of the requirements is contained in the revised Code of Practice issued under section 21 of the 1986 Act, which was presented to Parliament on 13th January 1997 (HC 193).

A compliance cost assessment of the effects that this Order will have on business is available from:

Home Office, Animals Procedures Section Room 983 50 Queen Anne’s Gate London SW1H 9AT.

(1)

1986 c. 14.

(2)

S.I. 1995/731.