The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Amendment Regulations 2012

The Committee for the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes

20.  For sections 19 and 20 (the Animal Procedures Committee) substitute—

“19    The Committee for the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes

(1) There is to be a committee to be known as the Committee for the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes.

(2) The Committee is to consist of a chair and other members appointed by the Secretary of State.

(3) Members of the Committee are to be appointed for such periods as the Secretary of State may determine.

(4) A person may resign as a member of the Committee or as its chair by notice in writing to the Secretary of State.

(5) The Secretary of State may terminate the appointment of a member if satisfied that—

(a) for a period of six months beginning not more than nine months previously the member has, without the consent of the other members, failed to attend the meetings of the Committee;

(b) the member is an undischarged bankrupt or has made an arrangement with his or her creditors;

(c) the member is for any reason incapable of acting as a member; or

(d) the member has been convicted of such a criminal offence, or the member’s conduct has been such, that it is not in the Secretary of State’s opinion fitting that the member should remain a member.

(6) The Secretary of State may make payments to the chair by way of remuneration and may make payments to the chair and the other members in respect of expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.

(7) The Secretary of State may also defray any other expenses of the Committee.

20    Functions of the Committee

(1) The Committee must provide advice to the Secretary of State and the Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies on such matters relating to the acquisition, breeding, accommodation, care and use of protected animals as the Committee may determine or as may be referred to the Committee by the Secretary of State.

(2) In its consideration of any matter the Committee shall have regard both to the legitimate requirements of science and industry and to the protection of animals against avoidable suffering and unnecessary use in scientific procedures.

(3) The Committee must take such steps as it considers appropriate to ensure the sharing of best practice in relation to the acquisition, breeding, accommodation, care and use of protected animals.

(4) The Committee must take such steps as it considers appropriate to share the following information with the foreign committees—

(a) information on the manner in which the Secretary of State evaluates applications for project licences;

(b) information on the operation of the Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies.

(5) The Secretary of State may provide the Committee with such information as the Committee requests for the purpose of enabling the Committee to exercise its duties under this section.

(6) In this section—

“the Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies” means the bodies established and maintained in pursuance of conditions included in section 2C licences by virtue of paragraph 6 of Schedule 2C;

“the foreign committees” means the committees established in Member States other than the United Kingdom in compliance with Article 49 of the Animals Directive.”