Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Appropriate Methods of Humane Killing) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

1997 No. 226

ANIMALS

Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Appropriate Methods of Humane Killing) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997

Made

29th April 1997

Coming into operation

9th June 1997

The Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 2(9) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986(1) as adapted by section 29 of that Act and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf, hereby makes the following order:

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This order may be cited as the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Appropriate Methods of Humane Killing) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997 and shall come into operation on 9th June 1997.

(2) In this order, “the Act” means the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

(3) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(2) shall apply to this order as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Amendment of the Act

2.  For Schedule 1 to the Act there shall be substituted the Schedule set out in the Schedule to this order.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland on

L.S.

W. B. Smith

Assistant Secretary

29th April 1997.

Article 2

SCHEDULE

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

SCHEDULE 1 Appropriate Methods of Humane Killing

1.   Subject to paragraph 2, the methods of humane killing listed in Tables A and B 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-paragraph (a) to (f):

(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) instanteous destruction of the body in a macerator.

2.   Paragraph 1 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 1.5kg
3.	Dislocation of the neck.	Rodents up to 500g Rabbits up to 1kg Birds up to 3kg
4.	Concussion of the brain by striking the cranium.	Rodents and Rabbits up to 1kg Birds up to 250g Amphibians and reptiles (with destruction of the brain before the return of consciousness) up to 1kg Fishes (with destruction of the brain before the return of consciousness)
5.	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), performed by the holder of a current licence granted under the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(3). (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
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, as adapted for Northern Ireland by section 29 thereof, 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 a revised Code of Practice entitled “The Humane Killing of Animals under Schedule 1 to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986” and issued in accordance with section 21 of the 1986 Act on 13th January 1997. Copies can be obtained from The Stationery Office bookshops.

(1)

1986 c. 14

(2)

1954 c. 33 (N.I.)

(3)

S.R. 1996 No. 558