The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Amendment Regulations 2012

4.—(1) All protected animals must at all times be provided with adequate care and accommodation appropriate to their type or species.

(2) Any restrictions on the extent to which such an animal can satisfy its physiological and ethological needs shall be kept to the absolute minimum.

(3) Unless otherwise authorised by the Secretary of State an environment, housing, freedom of movement, food and water appropriate for the health and well-being of each protected animal shall be provided.

(4) The licence holder shall ensure that the installations and equipment at the establishment are suitable for the species of protected animals kept at the establishment and for the regulated procedures, if any, carried out at the establishment. The design, construction and method of functioning of the installations and equipment must be such as to enable regulated procedures to be performed in a manner that provides reliable results, uses the minimum number of animals and causes the minimum degree of pain, suffering, distress and lasting harm to the animals used.

(5) The health and well-being of protected animals, and the environmental conditions in all parts of the establishment where protected animals are kept, shall be checked at least once daily by competent persons. Arrangements shall be made to ensure that any defect discovered and any avoidable pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm discovered is eliminated as quickly as possible.

(6) The holder shall ensure that the conditions under which any protected animal is transported are appropriate for the animal’s health and well-being.

(7) Unless otherwise authorised by the Secretary of State the licence holder shall ensure that at least the following standards are met—

(a) any applicable standard concerning the care and accommodation of animals or installations and equipment, which is set out in Annex 3 of the Animals Directive;

(b) any additional or higher standard concerning the care and accommodation of animals which is set out in any code of practice issued or approved under section 21 that was in force on 9 November 2010.

(8) For the purposes of subparagraph (7)(a) a standard set out in Annex 3 of the Animals Directive is not to be treated as being an “applicable standard” if the Annex specifies a date from which the standard is to have effect and that date has not been reached.