Guidance on how to carry out scientific research and testing using animals, and how to apply for licences.
Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
The use of animals in experiments and testing is regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). ASPA has recently been revised to change the European Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. The revised legislation came into force on 1 January 2013.
ASPA is implemented by the Home Office in England, Scotland and Wales and by the Department for Health, Social Security and Public Safety in Northern Ireland.
Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) Guidance
Compliance with ASPA
Replacement, Reduction and Refinement
The government is committed to the replacement, reduction, and refinement of the use of animals in research - the ‘3Rs’.
The use of animals in scientific research remains a vital tool in improving our understanding of how biological systems work both in health and disease, and in the development of new medicines, treatments and technologies. Underpinning this research is a strong commitment to maintaining a rigorous regulatory system which ensures that animal research is carried out only where no practicable alternative exists and under controls which keep suffering to a minimum. This is achieved through robustly applying the principles of the 3Rs to all research proposals involving the use of animals.
Implementing the 3Rs requires that, in every research proposal, animals are replaced with non-animal alternatives wherever possible; that the number of animals is reduced to the minimum needed to achieve the results sought; and that, for those animals which must be used, procedures are refined as much as possible to minimise their suffering. The government is committed to ensuring that any licence we grant under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 must rigorously and demonstrably apply the 3Rs principles.
In 2010, the coalition government made a commitment to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research and a delivery plan has been published. The plan shows how alternative methods can deliver fast, high-quality research that also boosts economic growth. We have now published a delivery report which describes the progress made on actions set out in the delivery plan.
Applying for licences
Three licences are required by the ASPA before testing on animals is permitted:
- 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
Read the guidance on applying for a licence to carry out animal testing.
The full report of the 2016 statistics on scientific procedures on living animals was published on 13 July 2017.
You can also view previous reports in the Statistics of scientific procedures on living animals collection.
Statistics are collected annually in the United Kingdom 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 please read our guidance on the annual returns process
Publication of non-technical summaries is a legal requirement under Article 43 of EU Directive 2010/63. This mandatory requirement will help put the debate on the use of animals in research and testing on a much better informed footing.
You can view:
- non-technical summaries granted in 2016
- non-technical summaries granted in 2015
- non-technical summaries granted in 2014
- non-technical summaries granted in 2013
Details of project licences granted under ASPA in 2010 to 2012 are available on The National Archives.
Dealing with complaints and disagreements
The process below can be used if you are unhappy about any aspect of ASRU’s work. The process will be:
- contact ASRUBusiness@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
- in your e-mail set out the grounds for your concern and any supporting information.
- ASRU Business Support will record the concern. The concern will be passed to either a principal inspector or another manager within the unit to follow-up. The decision on who should investigate would be taken by the Head of Unit.
- the concern will be investigated and discussed with the member of staff concerned.
- a conclusion and recommendation from the concern will be drawn up and passed on to you, the staff member concerned and to ASRU Business Support to record its completion.
- we will endeavour to complete this process within 30 days. Should this not be possible you will receive an e-mail within the 30 days explaining why the process will take longer to complete.
For serious matters around the revocation, granting or variation of licences the formal procedure under section 12 of ASPA should continue to be used.
The 2015 annual report of the Animals in Science Regulation unit describes its work during 2015 in regulating work under ASPA as amended in 2012.
You can also read previous annual reports in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit annual reports collection.