Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Article 14 Anaesthesia

1. Member States shall ensure that, unless it is inappropriate, procedures are carried out under general or local anaesthesia, and that analgesia or another appropriate method is used to ensure that pain, suffering and distress are kept to a minimum.

Procedures that involve serious injuries that may cause severe pain shall not be carried out without anaesthesia.

2. When deciding on the appropriateness of using anaesthesia, the following shall be taken into account:

(a) whether anaesthesia is judged to be more traumatic to the animal than the procedure itself; and

(b) whether anaesthesia is incompatible with the purpose of the procedure.

3. Member States shall ensure that animals are not given any drug to stop or restrict their showing pain without an adequate level of anaesthesia or analgesia.

In these cases, a scientific justification shall be provided, accompanied by the details of the anaesthetic or analgesic regimen.

4. An animal, which may suffer pain once anaesthesia has worn off, shall be treated with pre-emptive and post-operative analgesics or other appropriate pain-relieving methods provided that it is compatible with the purpose of the procedure.

5. As soon as the purpose of the procedure has been achieved appropriate action shall be taken to minimise the suffering of the animal.