In its application to Northern Ireland, this section has effect subject to the modifications set out in s. 29, see s. 29(1)

Words in s. 21 heading substituted (1.1.2015) by The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Amendment Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/3039), regs. 1(4), 26(9)(a) (with Sch. 3)

Words in s. 21(1) omitted (1.1.2013) by virtue of The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Amendment Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/3039), regs. 1(2), 26(9)(b) (with Sch. 3)

Words in s. 21(3) substituted (1.1.2013) by The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Amendment Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/3039), regs. 1(2), 26(9)(c) (with Sch. 3)

S. 21(7) omitted (1.1.2015) by virtue of The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Amendment Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/3039), regs. 1(4), 26(9)(d) (with Sch. 3)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/14/section/21Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 19861986-05-20texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-09-21Expert Participation2026-06-19 Miscellaneous and supplementary
21 Guidance and codes of practice.(1)

The Secretary of State shall publish information to serve as guidance with respect to the manner in which he proposes to exercise his power to grant licences ... under this Act and with respect to the conditions which he proposes to include in such licences ....

(2)

The Secretary of State shall issue codes of practice as to the care of protected animals and their use for regulated procedures and may approve such codes issued by other persons.

(3)

The Secretary of State shall consult the Committee for the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes before publishing or altering any information under subsection (1) above or issuing, approving, altering or approving any alteration in any code issued or approved under subsection (2) above.

(4)

A failure on the part of any person to comply with any provision of a code issued or approved under subsection (2) above shall not of itself render that person liable to criminal or civil proceedings but—

(a)

any such code shall be admissible in evidence in any such proceedings; and

(b)

if any of its provisions appears to the court conducting the proceedings to be relevant to any question arising in the proceedings it shall be taken into account in determining that question.

(5)

The Secretary of State shall lay before Parliament—

(a)

copies of any information published or code issued by him under subsection (1) or (2) above and of any alteration made by him in any such information or code; and

(b)

copies of any code approved by him under subsection (2) above and of any alteration approved by him in any such code;

and if either House of Parliament passes a resolution requiring the information, code or alteration mentioned in paragraph (a) above, or the approval mentioned in paragraph (b) above, to be withdrawn the Secretary of State shall withdraw it accordingly; and where he withdraws information published or a code issued by him or his approval of a code he shall publish information or issue or approve a code, as the case may be, in substitution for the information or code previously published, issued or approved.

(6)

No resolution shall be passed by either House under subsection (5) above in respect of any information, code or alteration after the end of the period of forty days beginning with the day on which a copy of the information, code or alteration was laid before that House; but for the purposes of this subsection no account shall be taken of any time during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.

(7)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .