UK Act of Parliament
1986
United Kingdom
Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
An Act to make new provision for the protection of animals used for experimental or other scientific purposes.
At a glance
What's here
53 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides
Penalty landscape
2 of 53 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 2 carry different penalties and 49 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 27
- Director or Officer 1
- Licence Holder 1
- Employer 1
- Employee 1
Plus 22 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
2 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 425 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 161 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 108 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 72 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 55 duties
- The Housing Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2018 2018 26 duties
Licence Holders also bound by 221 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Petroleum (Current Model Clauses) Order 1999 1999 317 duties
- The Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Seaward and Landward Areas) Regulations 2004 2004 123 duties
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 76 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 68 duties
- The Petroleum (Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 1991 1991 65 duties
Employers also bound by 694 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 236 duties
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 1998 120 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 72 duties
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 52 duties
- Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 2003 50 duties
Employees also bound by 182 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 13 duties
- Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 2012 12 duties
- Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014 2014 10 duties
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 10 duties
- Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 2002 9 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
(1) A project licence that would authorise the application of...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must check conditions before granting licences for endangered primate use Crown / Minister / Government department
(1) A project licence that would authorise the application of...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must verify licence conditions before granting primate research licences Crown / Minister / Government department
(1) A project licence that would authorise the application of...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must verify licence conditions for endangered animals Crown / Minister / Government department
(1) A project licence that would authorise the application of...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must verify Condition 9 before issuing licences Crown / Minister / Government department
A section 2C licence must include a condition requiring the...
- Ensure licensed animal activities follow the 3Rs principles Any Person
(1) A section 2C licence must include conditions requiring the...
- Mark all unmarked dogs, cats and primates under your licence Any Person
(1) A section 2C licence must include such conditions relating...
- Licence holders must include animal care conditions in Section 2C licences Any Person
A section 2C licence must include conditions requiring the holder...
- Assist inspectors during visits to your licensed premises Any Person
A personal licence must include a condition requiring the holder...
- Follow 3Rs principles when working under a personal licence Any Person
A personal licence must include— (a) a condition to the...
- Prevent and minimise severe pain, suffering and distress in animal procedures Any Person
(1) A personal licence must include a condition to the...
- Apply regulated animal procedures humanely under licence conditions Any Person
A personal licence must include conditions requiring the holder to...
- Assist inspectors during site visits Any Person
A project licence must include a condition requiring the holder...
- Do not use animal procedures where a non-animal alternative exists Any Person
(1) A project licence must include a condition requiring the...
- Ensure procedures for animal research meet the ASPA 1986 moral requirements Any Person
(1) A section 2C licence must include conditions requiring the...
- Maintain a register and training conditions for protected animal killing Employer
A project licence must include such conditions as the Secretary...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must include licence conditions preventing severe animal suffering Crown / Minister / Government department
A project licence must include such conditions as the Secretary...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must licence conditions to stop unnecessary animal suffering Crown / Minister / Government department
A project licence must include such conditions as the Secretary...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must impose humane endpoint conditions on project licences Crown / Minister / Government department
(1) A project licence must include a condition requiring the...
- Licence holder must classify procedure severity Any Person
(1) A project licence must include such conditions as the...
- Ensure animals are killed at the end of regulated procedures unless a vet approves Licence Holder
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), a project licence must include—...
- Prohibit regulated procedures on stray, feral, wild and restricted animals Any Person
(1) A project licence must include such conditions as the...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Crown must set licence conditions to prevent unnecessary animal procedures Crown / Minister / Government department
A project licence must include a condition to the effect...
- Rectify licence condition breaches and record steps taken Any Person
A section 2C licence must include such conditions as the...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must include notification conditions in section 2C licences Crown / Minister / Government department
(1) A section 2C licence must include such conditions as...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must include licence conditions ensuring suitable installations Crown / Minister / Government department
A section 2C licence must include such conditions as the...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must include staff care conditions in section 2C licences Crown / Minister / Government department
(1) A section 2C licence must include a condition requiring...
- Set up and run an Animal Welfare & Ethical Review Body and keep 3‑year records Director or Officer
A section 2C licence which authorises the holder to carry...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- SoS must require primate breeding strategy in licence conditions Crown / Minister / Government department
A section 2C licence must include conditions requiring the holder—...
- Keep and retain animal breeding/supply records for at least 5 years Any Person
(1) A section 2C licence must include conditions requiring the...
- Keep an individual history file for dogs, cats and primates Any Person
Browse 68 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
. . . . . . . . . ....
(1) A requirement in Table A for prior use of...
All experiments shall be carried out under general or local...
Paragraph 1 above does not apply when:
If anaesthesia is not possible, analgesics or other appropriate methods...
Provided such action is compatible with the object of the...
This Schedule contains descriptions of procedures assigned to a particular...
The administration of a substance where— (a) the substance has...
The induction of tumours, or spontaneous tumours, that cause no...
The breeding of a genetically altered animal, which is expected...
The feeding of a modified diet that does not meet...
Restraint in metabolic cages for less than 24 hours.
A study involving— (a) short-term deprivation of a social partner,...
Experimental models which expose an animal to noxious stimuli which—...
A repetition or combination of any of the following procedures,...
The repeated application of test substances which produce moderate clinical...
The withdrawal of blood samples from a conscious animal where—...
Part 2 of this Schedule contains a list of procedures...
An acute dose-range finding study, or chronic toxicity or carcinogenicity...
Surgery under general anaesthesia and appropriate analgesia, associated with post...
Models of induction of tumours, or spontaneous tumours, that are...
Irradiation or chemotherapy with— (a) a sublethal dose, or
The breeding of a genetically altered animal which is expected...
The creation of a genetically altered animal through a surgical...
The use of metabolic cages involving moderate restriction of movement...
A study with a modified diet that does not meet...
The withdrawal of food for 48 hours in an adult...
Evoking escape and avoidance reactions where the animal is—
Part 3 of this Schedule contains a list of procedures...
Toxicity testing, including in particular single dose acute toxicity testing,...
The testing of a device where failure may cause severe...
Vaccine potency testing that is— (a) characterised by—
Irradiation or chemotherapy with a lethal dose—
The induction of tumours, or spontaneous tumours, that are expected...
Surgical and other interventions in an animal under general anaesthesia...
Production of unstable fractures, or thoracotomy without adequate analgesia.
A procedure expected to result in multiple organ failure.
Organ transplantation where organ rejection is likely to lead to...
Breeding an animal with a genetic disorder that is expected...
Part 4 of this Schedule contains a list of procedures...
The use of metabolic cages involving severe restriction of movement...
Inescapable electric shock including, in particular, where it produces learned...
The complete isolation for a prolonged period of a social...
Immobilisation stress expected to result in gastric ulcers or cardiac...
Forced swim or exercise tests with exhaustion as the end-point....
The administration of anaesthesia except for the sole purpose of...
A pharmacokinetic study where a single dose is administered, a...
The non-invasive imaging of an animal with appropriate sedation or...
A superficial procedure including, in particular— (a) ear and tail...
The application of external telemetry devices that cause only minor...
In this Schedule— “the Council Regulation” means Council Regulation (EC)...
A project licence must include such conditions as the Secretary...
A project licence must include conditions requiring the holder to...
In section 1(3) of the Protection of Animals Act 1911...
In section 5(4) of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976...
In section 1(3) of the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act...
In paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Protection of...
In section 12 of the Pests Act 1954 for the...
In section 19(4)(a) of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 for...
In section 1(2A)(b) of the Slaughter of Poultry Act 1967...
In section 1(2) of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968...
In sections 1(2) and 15(a) of, and paragraph 1 of...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any licence which immediately before the coming into force of...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, any experiment or series...
A person shall not by virtue of paragraphs 1 or...
Until such date as the Secretary of State may direct...
Any person who at the coming into force of section...
Prohibition of unlicensed undertakings
- You must not carry out regulated procedures on protected animals without a licence Any Person
Prohibition of unlicensed procedures.
- Do not personally apply regulated procedures to animals unless licensed Any Person
Personal licences.
- Secure a personal licence for staff who apply regulated animal procedures Employee
Determining an application: evaluation of the programme of work
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must evaluate the programme of work for a project licence Crown / Minister / Government department
Determining an application: further provision
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must verify licence conditions before granting Crown / Minister / Government department
Granting a project licence
- Prepare and maintain a compliant project licence Any Person
Documents to be kept by Secretary of State
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Crown must keep licence documents for 3 years Crown / Minister / Government department
Conditions
- Comply with licence conditions, including assistant usage rules Any Person
Suspension in cases of urgency.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must suspend licences for animal welfare Crown / Minister / Government department
Duty to ensure welfare of animals not adversely affected by revocation or suspension
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must protect animal welfare when licences are revoked Crown / Minister / Government department
Re-use of protected animals
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must grant consent to re‑use protected animals Crown / Minister / Government department
Killing animals at conclusion of regulated procedures.
- Ensure immediate killing of protected animals at the end of a series of regulated procedures Any Person
Prohibition of public displays.
- Do NOT exhibit regulated animal procedures to the public or live TV Any Person
Neuromuscular blocking agents
- Use neuromuscular blocking agents only if licensed and with proper anaesthesia Any Person
Setting free and re-homing protected animals
- Licence holders must not set free or re‑home protected animals without consent or procedures Any Person
Inspectors.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Inspectors must advise, inspect and report on licence holders Statutory regulator
Functions of the Committee
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Committee must advise on acquisition, breeding, accommodation, care and use of protected animals Statutory regulator
Sharing of organs and tissues
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must set up programmes for shared animal tissues Crown / Minister / Government department
Statistics and reporting
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Crown must publish annual statistics on protected animal use Crown / Minister / Government department
Penalties for contraventions.
2 years imprisonment- Fail to conduct regulated procedures on protected animals Any Person
False statements.
3 months imprisonment- Provide false or misleading info to obtain a licence Any Person
Protection of confidential information.
2 years imprisonment- Disclose confidential animal research information Any Person
Powers of entry.
three months imprisonment- Obstruct officers or provide false identity during investigations Any Person
Browse 26 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Protected animals.
Regulated procedures.
Principles of replacement, reduction and refinement
Licensing of undertakings
Project licences: general
Application for a project licence
Determining an application: classification of the severity of the procedure
Duration of a project licence and further evaluation etc
Retrospective assessment of programme of work
Scientific procedure establishments.
Breeding and supplying establishments.
Fees.
Consultation.
Failure to comply with licence conditions etc
Right to make representations.
Manner in which protected animals are to be killed
The Committee for the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes
Alternative strategies
Guidance and codes of practice.
Prosecutions.
Repeal, consequential amendments and transitional provisions.
Orders.
Application to Northern Ireland.
Short title, interpretation and commencement.
A. Methods for animals other than foetal, larval and...
B. Methods for foetal, larval and embryonic forms Animals...
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Guidance for trials using feed additives not authorised - GOV.UK (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- HSE: ionising radiations (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- Home Office: research and testing using animals (opens in a new tab) from Home Office Detailed Guidance
- HSE: genetically modified organisms (contained use) (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- Minimisation of animal testing (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
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