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Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986

1986 c. 14 · Enacted 20 May 1986 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 3 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 19 June 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 22(3)words repealedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 37 Pt. 9
s. 23(2)words repealedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 37 Pt. 9
s. 25(3)words repealedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 37 Pt. 9
An Act to make new provision for the protection of animals used for experimental or other scientific purposes.[20th May 1986]

I1C1E1Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Preliminary
  2. 1Protected animals.
  3. 2Regulated procedures.
  4. 2APrinciples of replacement, reduction and refinement
  5. Licensing of undertakings
  6. 2BProhibition of unlicensed undertakings
  7. 2CLicensing of undertakings
  8. Personal and project licences
  9. 3Prohibition of unlicensed procedures.
  10. 4Personal licences.
  11. 5Project licences: general
  12. 5AApplication for a project licence
  13. 5BDetermining an application: evaluation of the programme of work
  14. 5BADetermining an application: classification of the severity of the procedure
  15. 5CDetermining an application: further provision
  16. 5DGranting a project licence
  17. 5EDuration of a project licence and further evaluation etc
  18. 5FRetrospective assessment of programme of work
  19. 5GDocuments to be kept by Secretary of State
  20. ...
  21. 6Scientific procedure establishments.
  22. 7Breeding and supplying establishments.
  23. Licences: general provisions
  24. 8Fees.
  25. ...
  26. 9Consultation.
  27. 10Conditions
  28. 11Failure to comply with licence conditions etc
  29. 12Right to make representations.
  30. 13Suspension in cases of urgency.
  31. 13ADuty to ensure welfare of animals not adversely affected by revocation or suspension
  32. Additional controls
  33. 14Re-use of protected animals
  34. 15Killing animals at conclusion of regulated procedures.
  35. 15AManner in which protected animals are to be killed
  36. 16Prohibition of public displays.
  37. 17Neuromuscular blocking agents
  38. 17ASetting free and re-homing protected animals
  39. The inspectorate and the committee
  40. 18Inspectors.
  41. 19The Committee for the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes
  42. 20Functions of the Committee
  43. Miscellaneous and supplementary
  44. 20ASharing of organs and tissues
  45. 20BAlternative strategies
  46. 21Guidance and codes of practice.
  47. 21AStatistics and reporting
  48. 22Penalties for contraventions.
  49. 23False statements.
  50. 24Protection of confidential information.
  51. 25Powers of entry.
  52. 26Prosecutions.
  53. 27Repeal, consequential amendments and transitional provisions.
  54. 28Orders.
  55. 29Application to Northern Ireland.
  56. 30Short title, interpretation and commencement.
  57. Schedule 1: APPROPRIATE METHODS OF HUMANE KILLING
  58. 1Paragraph 1
  59. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  60. 3Paragraph 3
  61. Table AParagraph Table A
  62. Table BParagraph Table B
  63. Schedule 2: ANIMALS THAT ARE “RELEVANT PROTECTED ANIMALS” FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 2B
  64. Schedule 2A: ARTICLE 8 OF COUNCIL DIRECTIVE No.86/609/EEC Repealed
  65. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  66. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  67. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  68. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  69. Schedule 2AA: Severity of procedures
  70. Part 1: General
  71. 1Paragraph 1
  72. 2Paragraph 2
  73. 3Paragraph 3
  74. 4Paragraph 4
  75. Part 2: Mild procedures
  76. 5Paragraph 5
  77. 6Paragraph 6
  78. 7Paragraph 7
  79. 8Paragraph 8
  80. 9Paragraph 9
  81. 10Paragraph 10
  82. 11Paragraph 11
  83. 12Paragraph 12
  84. 13Paragraph 13
  85. 14Paragraph 14
  86. 15Paragraph 15
  87. 16Paragraph 16
  88. 17Paragraph 17
  89. Part 3: Moderate procedures
  90. 18Paragraph 18
  91. 19Paragraph 19
  92. 20Paragraph 20
  93. 21Paragraph 21
  94. 22Paragraph 22
  95. 23Paragraph 23
  96. 24Paragraph 24
  97. 25Paragraph 25
  98. 26Paragraph 26
  99. 27Paragraph 27
  100. 28Paragraph 28
  101. 29Paragraph 29
  102. Part 4: Severe procedures
  103. 30Paragraph 30
  104. 31Paragraph 31
  105. 32Paragraph 32
  106. 33Paragraph 33
  107. 34Paragraph 34
  108. 35Paragraph 35
  109. 36Paragraph 36
  110. 37Paragraph 37
  111. 38Paragraph 38
  112. 39Paragraph 39
  113. 40Paragraph 40
  114. 41Paragraph 41
  115. 42Paragraph 42
  116. 43Paragraph 43
  117. 44Paragraph 44
  118. Schedule 2B: ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS FOR THE GRANT OF CERTAIN PROJECT LICENCES
  119. Project licences authorising the use of endangered primates
  120. 1Paragraph 1
  121. Project licences authorising the use of non-endangered primates
  122. 2Paragraph 2
  123. Project licences authorising the use of endangered animals that are not primates
  124. 3Paragraph 3
  125. Project licences authorising the use of cats, dogs and equidae
  126. 4Paragraph 4
  127. Interpretation
  128. 5Paragraph 5
  129. Schedule 2C: CONDITIONS IN LICENCES
  130. Part 1: Conditions in section 2C licences
  131. 1Paragraph 1
  132. 2Paragraph 2
  133. 3Paragraph 3
  134. 4Paragraph 4
  135. 5Paragraph 5
  136. 6Paragraph 6
  137. 7Paragraph 7
  138. 8Paragraph 8
  139. 9Paragraph 9
  140. 10Paragraph 10
  141. 11Paragraph 11
  142. 12Paragraph 12
  143. Part 2: Conditions in personal licences
  144. 13Paragraph 13
  145. 14Paragraph 14
  146. 15Paragraph 15
  147. 16Paragraph 16
  148. Part 3: Conditions in project licences
  149. 17Paragraph 17
  150. 18Paragraph 18
  151. 19Paragraph 19
  152. 20Paragraph 20
  153. 21Paragraph 21
  154. 22Paragraph 22
  155. 23Paragraph 23
  156. 24Paragraph 24
  157. 25Paragraph 25
  158. 26Paragraph 26
  159. 27Paragraph 27
  160. 28Paragraph 28
  161. Schedule 3: CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
  162. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  163. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  164. 3Paragraph 3
  165. 4Paragraph 4
  166. 5Paragraph 5
  167. 6Paragraph 6
  168. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  169. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  170. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  171. 10Paragraph 10
  172. Schedule 4: TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
  173. Existing licences
  174. 1Paragraph 1
  175. Current experiments
  176. 2Paragraph 2
  177. Existing certificates
  178. 3Paragraph 3
  179. Registered premises
  180. 4Paragraph 4
  181. Inspectors
  182. 5Paragraph 5