The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021

Protection from suffering, injury and disease

9.—(1) Written procedures must—

(a) be in place and implemented covering—

(i) feeding regimes,

(ii) cleaning regimes,

(iii) transportation,

(iv) the prevention of, and control of the spread of, disease,

(v) monitoring and ensuring the health and welfare of all the animals, and

(vi) except in relation to fish, the death or escape of an animal (including the storage of carcasses),

(b) be in place covering the care of the animals—

(i) following the suspension or revocation of the licence,

(ii) during an emergency, and

(iii) following an emergency.

(2) All people responsible for the care of the animals must be made fully aware of these procedures before they attend to any animal in the course of the licensable activity.

(3) If animals are kept in premises from which the licensable activity is carried on, appropriate isolation, in separate self-contained facilities, must be available for the care of sick, injured or potentially infectious animals.

(4) All reasonable precautions must be taken to prevent and control the spread among the animals and people of infectious diseases, pathogens and parasites.

(5) All excreta and soiled bedding for disposal must be stored and disposed of in a hygienic manner and in accordance with any relevant legislation.

(6) Sick or injured animals must receive prompt attention from a veterinary surgeon or, in the case of any sick or injured fish, an appropriately trained person and the advice of that veterinary surgeon or that trained person must be followed.

(7) Where necessary, animals must receive preventative treatment by an appropriately competent person in consultation with a veterinary surgeon.

(8) The licence holder must register with a veterinary surgeon and the contact details of that veterinary surgeon must be readily available to all staff on any premises on which animals are kept and from which the licensable activity is carried on.

(9) Prescribed medicines must be stored safely and securely to safeguard against unauthorised access, at the correct temperature, and used in accordance with the instructions of the veterinary surgeon.

(10) Medicines other than prescribed medicines must be stored, used and disposed of in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer or veterinary surgeon.

(11) Cleaning products must be suitable, safe and effective against pathogens that pose a risk to the animals and must be used, stored and disposed of in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and used in a way which prevents distress or suffering of the animals.

(12) No person may euthanase an animal except a veterinary surgeon, a person acting under supervision of a veterinary surgeon, a person who has been authorised by a veterinary surgeon as competent for such purpose or—

(a) in the case of fish, a person who is competent for such purpose,

(b) in the case of equines and species generally regarded as farmed livestock, a person who is competent, and who holds a licence or certificate which is relevant to the species, for such purpose,

except where the purpose of the euthanasia is to end suffering that has arisen suddenly and unexpectedly and to arrange for such a person to euthanase the animal would prolong the suffering.

(13) All animals must be checked at least once daily and more regularly as necessary for any signs of suffering, injury, disease or abnormal behaviour and vulnerable animals must be checked more frequently.

(14) Any signs of suffering, injury, disease or abnormal behaviour must be recorded and if necessary the advice of a veterinary surgeon (or in the case of fish, of an appropriately competent person) must be sought and followed.