xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland
ANIMALS
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:
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.
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
Sections 2, 6, 7, 10, 15(1) and 18(3)
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. |
|
4. | Concussion of the brain by striking the cranium. |
|
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. |
|
3. | Cooling of foetuses followed by immersion in cold tissue fixative. | Mice, Rats and Rabbits |
4. | Decapitation. | Mammals and Birds up to 50g. |
(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.