The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Amendment Regulations 2012

PART 3 Conditions in personal licences

1.  In exercising his or her responsibilities, the licence holder shall act at all times in a manner that is consistent with the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement.

2.  The licence holder is entrusted with primary responsibility for the welfare of the animals on which he or she has performed regulated procedures; the licence holder must ensure that animals are properly monitored and cared for.

3.  The licence holder must not apply a regulated procedure to an animal if the procedure may cause the animal severe pain, suffering or distress that is likely to be long-lasting and cannot be ameliorated.

4.  The licence holder must not apply a regulated procedure to an animal unless the holder has taken precautions to prevent or reduce to the minimum consistent with the purposes of the procedure any pain, suffering, distress or discomfort that may be caused to the animal.

5.  Where the licence holder is applying a regulated procedure to an animal the holder must ensure that any unnecessary pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm that is being caused to the animal is stopped.

6.  Where the licence holder is applying or has applied a regulated procedure which is causing the animal severe pain, suffering or distress the holder must take steps to ameliorate that pain, suffering or distress.

7.  The licence holder shall ensure that where the holder applies a regulated procedure death as the end-point of the procedure is avoided as far as possible and is replaced by an early and humane end-point.

8.  In all circumstances where an animal which is being, or has been, subjected to a regulated procedure is in severe pain, suffering or distress which is likely to be long-lasting and cannot be ameliorated, the licence holder must ensure that the animal is immediately killed in accordance with section 15A.

9.  The licence holder may apply a regulated procedure without the use of general or local anaesthesia only if the holder is satisfied that—

(a) the procedure will not inflict serious injuries capable of causing severe pain; and

(b) the use of general or local anaesthesia would be more traumatic to the animal than the procedure itself or would frustrate the purposes of the procedure.

10.  When anaesthesia (whether general or local) is used, it shall be of sufficient depth to prevent the animal from being aware of pain arising during the procedure.

11.  If the licence holder applies a regulated procedure to an animal with the use of general or local anaesthesia the holder must, unless it would frustrate the purpose of the procedure, use such analgesics or other pain-relieving methods as may be necessary to reduce any pain that the animal may experience once the anaesthesia wears off.

12.  The licence holder must use analgesia or another appropriate method to ensure that the pain, suffering and distress caused by regulated procedures are kept to a minimum.

13.  It is the responsibility of the personal licence holder to notify the project licence holder as soon as possible when it appears either that the severity limit of any procedure listed in the project licence or that the constraints upon adverse effects described in the project licence have been or are likely to be exceeded.

14.  The licence holder shall ensure that suitable arrangements exist for the care and welfare of animals during any period when the personal licence holder is not in attendance.

15.  The licence holder shall ensure that, whenever necessary, veterinary advice and treatment are obtained for the animals in his or her care.

16.  The licence holder shall ensure that all cages, pens or other enclosures are clearly labelled. The labelling must be such as to enable Inspectors, named veterinary surgeons and named animal care and welfare officers to identify the number of the project licence authorising the procedures, the project licence protocol in which the animals are being used, the date the protocol was started, and the responsible personal licence holder.

17.  In order to ensure that regulated procedures are performed competently, the licence holder shall not apply regulated procedures unless given the appropriate level of supervision by the project licence holder or an experienced personal licence holder deputed by him/her for such time as may be needed to achieve competence.

18.  The licence holder is authorised to delegate to assistants, who do not themselves possess the requisite personal licence authority but are under his or her control, the delegable tasks which form an integral part of the regulated procedures the licence holder is authorised to perform by this licence. The tasks must not require technical knowledge or skill, and delegation shall be in accordance with any relevant guidance published by the Secretary of State under section 21.

19.  The licence holder must take all reasonable steps to ensure appropriate personal and project licence authorities exist before performing regulated procedures. The licence holder must be aware of the nature of the authorities given by this licence and the project licence, and of the conditions of issue attached to the licences.

20.  The licence holder shall maintain a record of all animals on which procedures have been carried out, including details of supervision and declarations of competence by the project licence holder as appropriate. This record shall be retained for at least five years and shall, on request, be submitted to the Secretary of State or made available to an Inspector.

21.  The licence holder must give any necessary assistance to inspectors carrying out visits by virtue of section 18(2A)(b) ; and to experts of the European Commission carrying out duties under Article 35 of the Animals Directive.

22.  The licence remains the property of the Secretary of State, and shall be surrendered to him on request.