Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986

[F15AApplication for a project licenceU.K.

(1)An application for a project licence must—

(a)specify the programme of work the applicant wishes to be specified in the project licence;

(b)specify the regulated procedures, the descriptions of animal and the place or places the applicant wishes to be specified in the project licence;

(c)include information on the matters set out in Annex 6 of the Animals Directive;

(d)include such other information as the Secretary of State may reasonably require; and

(e)be accompanied by a project summary.

(2)A project summary is a statement, in non-technical language, which (subject to subsection (3)(a))—

(a)describes 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;

(b)demonstrates that the proposed programme of work would be carried out in compliance with the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement.

(3)A project summary must not contain—

(a)any information of a confidential nature or any information the publication of which may lead to the infringement of any person’s intellectual property rights;

(b)names or addresses or any other information from which the identity of the applicant or any other person can be ascertained.

(4)If 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—

(a)the fact that the application is incomplete or incorrect;

(b)the additional information that needs to be provided by the applicant to complete or correct the application; and

(c)the fact that the period mentioned in subsection (7) will not begin until the Secretary of State has received the additional information.

(5)Subsections (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.

(6)The Secretary of State must as soon as practicable—

(a)acknowledge receipt of the application or (as the case may be) receipt of the information; and

(b)inform the applicant of the effect of subsections (7) to (9).

(7)Within 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—

(a)grant 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); or

(b)serve on the applicant a notice under section 12(1) indicating the Secretary of State’s intention to refuse the project licence.

(8)On 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.

(9)The 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.]