# Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 1972, Section 1: Prevention of unnecessary pain and distress for livestock.


(1) Subject to subsection (2), any person who causes unnecessary pain or unnecessary distress to any livestock for the time being situated on agricultural land and under his control or permits any such livestock to suffer any such pain or distress of which he knows or may reasonably be expected to know shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to any act lawfully done under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 or to any act done by or under 1876 c.77 the direction of any person in accordance with the terms of a licence granted by the Ministry for the purpose of enabling that person to undertake scientific research.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1972/7/section/1 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/welfare-of-animals-act-northern-ireland-1972/section-1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.