Animal testing and research: guidance for the regulated community

Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) Guidanceguidance and regulatory advice

You can read ASRU guidance that explains how the act is administered and enforced including detailed regulatory advice for licence holders

• household products testing ban
• guidance on the use of human material in animals
• use, keeping alive and re-use
• harm-benefit analysis
• re-homing and setting free
• working with animals taken from the wild
• code of practice for the care and accommodation of animals
• efficient breeding of genetically altered animals
• severity classification of genetically altered animals
• recording and reporting the actual severity of regulated procedures
• process and standards for establishment full system audits
• Standard genetically altered rodents protocols (PDF, 280 KB, 40 pages)
• Standard genetically altered zebrafish protocols (PDF, 263 KB, 28 pages)
• Guidance on the use of standard genetically altered animals (PDF, 104 KB, 5 pages)

From 5 July 2021, ASRU now provides regulatory delivery through 2 teams covering different areas each of which has a dedicated inbox. Read the Bridging ways of working guidance (PDF, 185 KB, 9 pages) for advice.

Apply for licences

Three licences are required by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) before testing on animals is allowed. The 3 licences needed are:

• personal licence for each person carrying out procedures on animals
• project licence for the programme of work
• establishment licence for the place at which the work is carried out

You should use the Animals in Science Procedures e-Licensing (ASPeL) system for all personal and project licence applications.

Contact your establishment’s Home Office liaison contact/administrator to start your application online.

If you are from an establishment that is not yet licensed, email ASPELTechnicalQueries@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Any named person responsible for animal welfare on the establishment licence will need to complete a conflict of interest declaration form.

Before applying, please read the standard conditions for personal licences, project licences and establishment licences.

You can also read guidance on:

• improving your project licence application
• data protection impact assessment for the Animals in Science Procedures e-Licensing system

Project Licence Standard Condition 18 notification

All project licences are subject to a set of standard conditions. Standard Condition 18 requires that the project licence holder (PPLh) notifies the Secretary of State as soon as possible if constraints on the severity limits, or observance of other controls described in the licence, have been breached or are likely to have been breached.

You can read the Advice note - Project Licence Standard Condition 18 Notification (PDF, 544 KB, 22 pages), and use the form Project Licence Standard Condition 18 Notification form (ODT, 31.8 KB) to make reports.

Annual returns on the use of protected animals

Statistics are collected annually in the UK to meet the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to collect and publish statistical information on the use of protected animals in regulated procedures.

If you are a project licence holder, read the guidance on the annual returns process.

Newsletters

The Animals in Science Regulation Unit newsletters are sent out by the ASRU. If you have any questions about their content, email asrubusiness@homeoffice.gov.uk.

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Contact information and forms

Use ASRULicensing@homeoffice.gov.uk for:

• specific queries relating to an individual licence application
• evidence to support an exemption from mandatory training
• requests to re-home animals where not already authorised
• advice on interpretation of licence authorities
• guidance on becoming an establishment
• advice on whether work needs to be regulated
• advice on applying for licences
• guidance on how we will assess applications
• information to support a PEL application or amendment notification of AWERB dates
• AWERB terms of reference

Use ASRUEnforcement@homeoffice.gov.uk for:

• reports of potential non-compliance
• reports required by a licence condition or as a result of enforcement action
• advice on whether a non-compliance may have occurred
• contact during a non-compliance investigation
• POLE notifications

Use ASRUStandardCondition18@homeoffice.gov.uk for:

• requests to keep animals alive
• Standard Condition 18 reports

Use ASRUAudit@homeoffice.gov.uk for:

• audit related queries

Use ASPELTechnicalQueries@homeoffice.gov.uk for:

• technical advice on the use of ASPeL

Use  ASRUOperationalRelationshipManagement@homeoffice.gov.uk for:

• raising concerns about the timeliness or completeness of response from any of our teams or any other concerns about any individual request or interaction.

• raising concerns about the timeliness or completeness of response from any of our teams or any other concerns about any individual request or interaction from the regulated community