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Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986

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[F2Sections 2 and 15A]

[F1SCHEDULE 1U.K. APPROPRIATE METHODS OF HUMANE KILLING

Textual Amendments

F1Sch. 1 substituted (E.W.S.) (1.3.1997) and (N.I.) (9.6.1997) by S.I. 1996/3278, art. 2, Sch.; S.R. 1997/226, art. 2, Sch.

F31E+W+SF4... 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:

(a)confirmation of permanent cessation of the circulation

(b)destruction of the brain

(c)dislocation of the neck

(d)exsanguination

(e)confirming the onset of rigor mortis

(f)instantaneous destruction of the body in a macerator.

Extent Information

E1This version of this provision extends to England and Wales and Scotland only; a separate version has been created for Northern Ireland only.

Textual Amendments

F3Sch. 1 para. 1: Sch. 1 substituted (E.W.S.) (1.3.1997) by S.I. 1996/3278, art. 2, Sch.

F15[F1[F141N.I.F4... 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):

(a)confirmation of permanent cessation of the circulation

(b)destruction of the brain

(c)dislocation of the neck

(d)exsanguination

(e)confirming the onset of rigor mortis

(f)instantaneous destruction of the body in a macerator.]]

Extent Information

E3This version of this provision extends to Northern Ireland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales and Scotland only.

Textual Amendments

F14Sch. 1 Table B: Sch. 1 substituted (E.W.S.) (1.3.1997) and (N.I.) (9.6.1997) by S.I. 1996/3278, art. 2, Sch.; S.R. 1997/226, art. 2, Sch.

F15Sch. 1 para. 1: Sch. 1 substituted (N.I.) (9.6.1997) by S.R. 1997/226, art. 2, Sch.

F52U.K.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F5Sch. 1 para. 2 omitted (1.1.2013) by virtue of The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Amendment Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/3039), regs. 1(2), 16(2) (with Sch. 3)

[F63.(1)A requirement in Table A for prior use of a sedative or anaesthetic—U.K.

(a)is subject to sub-paragraph (2); and

(b)is not to be read as prohibiting the prior use of sedative or anaesthetic in any cases where it is not required by that Table.

(2)Nothing in this Schedule requires or permits the prior use of sedative or anaesthetic where the distress likely to be caused by administering it is greater than the distress likely to be caused by using the appropriate method of killing without sedative or anaesthetic.]

Textual Amendments

Table AE+W+S 

[F7A. Methods for animals other than foetal, larval and embryonic formsAnimals for which appropriate

1. Overdose of an anaesthetic using a route and an anaesthetic agent appropriate for the size and species of animal.

All animals

2. Exposure to carbon dioxide gas in a rising concentration.

[F8Birds and Rodents up to 1.5 kg (but not neonatal rodents)]

3. Dislocation of the neck [F9(with the prior use of a sedative or anaesthetic in the case of rodents and rabbits over 150 g and birds over 250 g)].

Rodents up to 500g Rabbits up to 1 kg

[F10Birds up to 1 kg]

4. Concussion of the brain by striking the cranium.

Rodents 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)

5. 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 [F11the holder of a certificate of competence or licence granted under the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 or the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Wales) Regulations 2014, or a certificate of competence granted under the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Scotland) Regulations 2012—

(i) Destruction] of the brain by free bullet, [F12using appropriate rifles, guns and ammunition] or

(ii) captive bolt F13... or electrical stunning followed by destruction of the brain or exsanguination before return of consciousness.

Ungulates]

Extent Information

E2This version of this provision extends to England and Wales and Scotland only; a separate version has been created for Northern Ireland only.

Textual Amendments

F7Sch. 1 Table A: Sch. 1 substituted (E.W.S.) (1.3.1997) by S.I. 1996/3278, art. 2, Sch.

Table AN.I. 

[F16A. Methods for animals other than foetal, larval and embryonic formsAnimals for which appropriate

1. Overdose of an anaesthetic using a route and an anaesthetic agent appropriate for the size and species of animal.

All animals

2. Exposure to carbon dioxide gas in a rising concentration.

[F8Birds and Rodents up to 1.5 kg (but not neonatal rodents)]

3.Dislocation of the neck [F9(with the prior use of a sedative or anaesthetic in the case of rodents and rabbits over 150 g and birds over 250 g)].

Rodents up to 500g Rabbits up to 1 kg

[F10Birds up to 1 kg]

4. Concussion of the brain by striking the cranium.

Rodents 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)

5. 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 M1Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996.

(i) Destruction of the brain by free bullet, [F12using appropriate rifles, guns and ammunition] or

(ii) captive bolt F13... or electrical stunning followed by destruction of the brain or exsanguination before return of consciousness.

Ungulates]

Extent Information

E4This version of this provision extends to Northern Ireland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales and Scotland only.

Textual Amendments

F16Sch. 1 Table A: Sch. 1 substituted (N.I.) (9.6.1997) by S.R. 1997/226, art. 2, Sch.

Marginal Citations

Table BU.K. 

F14B. Methods for foetal, larval and embryonic formsAnimals for which appropriate

1.Overdose of an anaesthetic using a route and anaesthetic agent appropriate for the size, stage of development and species of animal.

All animals

2.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.

Birds Reptiles

3.Cooling of foetuses followed by immersion in cold tissue fixative.

Mice, Rats and Rabbits

4.Decapitation.

Mammals and Birds up to 50g.]

Textual Amendments

F14Sch. 1 Table B: Sch. 1 substituted (E.W.S.) (1.3.1997) and (N.I.) (9.6.1997) by S.I. 1996/3278, art. 2, Sch.; S.R. 1997/226, art. 2, Sch.

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