http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/14/section/5AAnimals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 19861986-05-20texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-09-21Expert Participation2026-06-19 5A1An application for a project licence must—aspecify the programme of work the applicant wishes to be specified in the project licence;bspecify the regulated procedures, the descriptions of animal and the place or places the applicant wishes to be specified in the project licence;cinclude information on the matters set out in subsection (1A);dinclude such other information as the Secretary of State may reasonably require; andebe accompanied by a project summary.1AThe matters referred to in subsection (1)(c) are—athe relevance of, and justification for, the regulated procedures specified in the application;bthe proposed application of methods to replace, reduce or refine the use of animals in those procedures;cthe proposed severity classification of the procedures specified in the application (see section 5B(3)(c));dthe relevance of, and justification for, the use of animals in those procedures;ethe following matters in relation to the animals to be used in those procedures—itheir estimated number;iitheir type and species;iiitheir life stages;ivtheir origin;fthe proposed housing conditions, husbandry conditions and care conditions of those animals;gthe steps proposed for the avoidance, reduction or alleviation of pain, suffering or distress in those animals, from birth to death where appropriate, including, in particular—ithe planned use of anaesthesia, analgesia or other methods of relieving pain;iithe use of humane end-points;hany proposed experimental or observational strategy or statistical design for minimising the following where appropriate—ithe number of animals to be used;iitheir pain, suffering or distress;iiithe environmental impact of the procedures;ithe cumulative effects of any proposed reuse on those animals;jany proposed methods of killing those animals;kthe steps proposed for the avoidance of any unjustified duplication of procedures where appropriate;lthe competence of persons involved in the proposed programme of work.2A project summary is a statement, in non-technical language, which (subject to subsection (3)(a))—adescribes the proposed programme of work and states the objectives of the programme, the predicted harm and benefits of the programme and the number and types of animal to be used in the programme;bdemonstrates that the proposed programme of work would be carried out in compliance with the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement.3A project summary must not contain—aany information of a confidential nature or any information the publication of which may lead to the infringement of any person’s intellectual property rights;bnames or addresses or any other information from which the identity of the applicant or any other person can be ascertained.4If the Secretary of State receives an incomplete or incorrect application for a project licence the Secretary of State must, as soon as practicable, inform the applicant of the following matters—athe fact that the application is incomplete or incorrect;bthe additional information that needs to be provided by the applicant to complete or correct the application; andcthe fact that the period mentioned in subsection (7) will not begin until the Secretary of State has received the additional information.5Subsections (6) to (9) apply if the Secretary of State receives a complete and correct application for a project licence or receives information from an applicant that completes or corrects an application for a project licence.6The Secretary of State must as soon as practicable—aacknowledge receipt of the application or (as the case may be) receipt of the information; andbinform the applicant of the effect of subsections (7) to (9).7Within the period of 40 working days beginning with the day on which the Secretary of State receives the application or (as the case may be) the information, the Secretary of State must—agrant a project licence to the applicant (in the terms specified in the application under subsection (1)(a) and (b) or in those terms with such modifications as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate); orbserve on the applicant a notice under section 12(1) indicating the Secretary of State’s intention to refuse the project licence.8On one occasion within the period mentioned in subsection (7), the Secretary of State may by notice to the applicant extend the period by up to 15 working days.9The Secretary of State may exercise the power in subsection (8) only if, and to the extent that, the Secretary of State considers its exercise is justified by the complexity or multi-disciplinary nature of the proposed programme of work.S. 5A(1A) inserted (19.6.2026) by The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/663), regs. 1(1), 4(b)Words in s. 5A(1)(c) substituted (19.6.2026) by The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/663), regs. 1(1), 4(a)Ss. 5-5G substituted for s. 5 (1.1.2013) by The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Amendment Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/3039), regs. 1(2), 9(1) (with Sch. 3)