{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/animals-scientific-procedures-act-1986-appropriate-methods-of-humane-killing-order-1996/schedule",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/animals-scientific-procedures-act-1986-appropriate-methods-of-humane-killing-order-1996/schedule.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1996/3278",
  "legislation_title": "The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Appropriate Methods of Humane Killing) Order 1996",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/animals-scientific-procedures-act-1986-appropriate-methods-of-humane-killing-order-1996",
  "path": "schedule",
  "kind": "schedule",
  "number": null,
  "heading": null,
  "text": "SCHEDULE 1\nAPPROPRIATE METHODS OF HUMANE KILLING\n1 Subject to paragraph 2 below, the methods of humane killing listed in Tables A and B below are appropriate for the animals listed in the corresponding entries in those tables only if the process of killing is completed by one of the methods listed in sub-paragraphs (a) to (f) below:\n(a) confirmation of permanent cessation of the circulation\n(b) destruction of the brain\n(c) dislocation of the neck\n(d) exsanguination\n(e) confirming the onset of rigor mortis\n(f) instantaneous destruction of the body in a macerator.\n2 Paragraph 1 above does not apply in those cases where Table A specifies one of the methods listed in that paragraph as an appropriate method of humane killing.\nA. Methods for animals other than foetal, larval and embryonic forms\nAnimals for which appropriate\n1 Overdose of an anaesthetic using a route and an anaesthetic agent appropriate for the size and species of animal.\nAll animals\n2 Exposure to carbon dioxide gas in a rising concentration.\nRodents, Rabbits and Birds up to 1.5 kg\n3 Dislocation of the neck.\nRodents up to 500g Rabbits up to 1 kg Birds up to 3 kg\n4 Concussion of the brain by striking the cranium.\nRodents and Rabbits up to 1 kg Birds up to 250g Amphibians and reptiles (with destruction of the brain before the return of consciousness) up to 1 kg Fishes (with destruction of the brain before the return of consciousness)\n5 One of the recognised methods of slaughter set out below which is appropriate to the animal and is performed by a registered veterinary surgeon, or, in the case of the methods described in paragraph (ii) below, performed by the holder of a current licence granted under the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995.\n(i) Destruction of the brain by free bullet, or\n(ii) captive bolt, percussion or electrical stunning followed by destruction of the brain or exsanguination before return of consciousness.\nUngulates\nB. Methods for foetal, larval and embryonic forms\nAnimals for which appropriate\n1 Overdose of an anaesthetic using a route and anaesthetic agent appropriate for the size, stage of development and species of animal.\nAll animals\n2 Refrigeration, or disruption of membranes, or maceration in apparatus approved under appropriate slaughter legislation, or exposure to carbon dioxide in near 100% concentration until they are dead.\nBirds Reptiles\nMethods for foetal, larval and embryonic forms\nAnimals for which appropriate\n3 Cooling of foetuses followed by immersion in cold tissue fixative.\nMice, Rats and Rabbits\n4 Decapitation.\nMammals and Birds up to 50g.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "S.I. 1995/731."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/3278/schedule",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T12:28:23.018105+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}