Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986

[F125.(1)Subject to sub-paragraph (3), a project licence must include—U.K.

(a)a condition to the effect that a stray animal of a domestic species must not be subjected to a regulated procedure as part of the specified programme of work;

(b)a condition to the effect that a feral animal of a domestic species must not be subjected to a regulated procedure as part of the specified programme of work;

(c)a condition to the effect that an animal taken from the wild must not be subjected to a regulated procedure as part of the specified programme of work;

(d)a condition to the effect that a marmoset must not be subjected to a regulated procedure as part of the specified programme of work unless it is the offspring of marmosets bred in captivity or it has been obtained from a self-sustaining colony of marmosets;

(e)a condition to the effect that an animal of a description specified in Schedule 2 must not be subjected to a regulated procedure as part of the specified programme of work unless it has been bred for use in regulated procedures.

(2)A project licence may include an exemption from the condition mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(b) in relation to a particular domestic species (“the exempted species”); but such an exemption may be included only if the Secretary of State is satisfied that there is scientific justification to the effect that the purposes of the specified programme of work can be achieved only by the application of regulated procedures to feral animals of the exempted species and that the specified programme of work consists of a study which is essential—

(a)to protect the health or welfare of animals of the exempted species; or

(b)to avoid a serious threat to human or animal health or the environment.

(3)A project licence is not required to include a condition mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(c), (d) or (e) if the Secretary of State is satisfied that there is scientific justification to the effect that compliance with the condition would prevent the purposes of the programme of work specified in the licence from being achieved.

(4)A project licence that permits the application of regulated procedures to animals taken from the wild must include such conditions as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the purpose of ensuring—

(a)that the animals taken from the wild are captured by a competent person using a method which does not cause the animal avoidable pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm;

(b)that an animal taken from the wild which is found to be injured or in poor health is not subjected to a regulated procedure unless and until—

(i)it has been examined by a veterinary surgeon or other competent person; and

(ii)action has been taken to minimise the suffering of the animal.

(5)But a project licence that permits the application of regulated procedures to animals taken from the wild is not required to include conditions for the purpose of ensuring the matter mentioned in sub-paragraph (4)(b)(ii) if the Secretary of State is satisfied that there is scientific justification to the effect that compliance with any such conditions would prevent the purposes of the programme of work specified in the licence from being achieved.

(6)For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(d) a colony of animals is a “self-sustaining colony” if—

(a)the colony is kept in captivity in a way that ensures the animals are accustomed to humans;

(b)the colony consists only of animals that have been bred in captivity; and

(c)the colony is sustained only by animals being bred within the colony or animals being sourced from other colonies that meet paragraphs (a) and (b).]

Textual Amendments