New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

ANIMAL RESEARCH REGULATION 2005 - SCHEDULE 1

SCHEDULE 1 – Supplementary provisions of the Code of Practice

(Clause 4)

Part 1 - Additional conditions to be observed in relation to animal research conducted in schools

1 Functions of ethics committees

(1) An ethics committee for a school has the function of preparing, in consultation with the Panel, a list of approved procedures that links each procedure with an appropriate educational objective.

(2) A proposal is not to be considered by the ethics committee unless it includes the following information:

(a) the matters listed in clause 2.2.16 of the Australian Code, and

(b) the name of the animal welfare liaison officer.

(3) An ethics committee must ensure that a list of its approved procedures is sent to each school under its supervision.

2 Animal welfare liaison officer

(1) For each school there is to be an animal welfare liaison officer.

(2) The animal welfare liaison officer for a primary school is to be the Principal for the school.

(3) The animal welfare liaison officer for a secondary school is to be such person as the Principal for the school may appoint.

3 Responsibilities of animal welfare liaison officers

The duties of the animal welfare liaison officer are as follows:

(a) to submit proposals for teaching procedures that involve the use of animals for the approval of the ethics committee for the school,

(b) to liaise with the ethics committee for the school on all matters concerning teaching procedures that involve the use of animals,

(c) to ensure that all teaching procedures at the school that involve the use of animals comply with the requirements of this Part,

(d) to ensure that appropriate records are kept of all animal research carried out at the school,

(e) to promote awareness of the requirements of this Part within the school.

4 Responsibilities of class teacher

A class teacher who uses animals in the course of teaching must ensure that any activity involving the animals that is included on the relevant list of approved procedures is to be entered in a school register, together with the teacher’s name.

Part 2 - Conditions to be observed by licensed animal suppliers in relation to dogs and cats generally

5 Application of Part

This Part applies to dogs and cats only.

6 Animals to be held by supplier for at least 5 days

No animal may be supplied for animal research until it has been held for at least 5 working days by the licensed animal supplier.

7 Veterinary examination

(1) Each animal must be examined by a competent person within 24 hours of arrival, and at least daily thereafter, until it is supplied for animal research.

(2) Immediate veterinary attention must be sought for any animal that shows any of the following signs:

(a) nasal discharge,

(b) ocular discharge,

(c) coughing,

(d) vomiting,

(e) diarrhoea,

(f) convulsions,

(g) lameness,

(h) inability to stand or walk,

(i) bleeding.

(3) Within 3 days of arrival, each animal must be given a comprehensive clinical examination by a veterinary practitioner and any vaccination or treatment, including the humane killing of the animal, considered necessary by a veterinary practitioner, to ensure that no animal that is injured, sick or unsuitable is supplied for animal research.

8 Keeping of records

(1) A licensed animal supplier must ensure that the approved records are kept for each animal acquired by the supplier.

(2) Those records are to include the documents referred to in Part 3 in relation to the animal.

(3) The records for an animal:

(a) must be prepared within 24 hours of the animal being received by the supplier, and

(b) must be readily accessible to such of the supplier’s staff as have responsibilities in relation to the animal.

(4) The results of any examination on an animal, details of any vaccination or treatment given to an animal and (if the animal dies) the date on which it died and the cause of its death must be entered on the records for the animal.

(5) The records for an animal must accompany the animal when it is supplied for animal research.

9 Release of animals

(1) A licensed animal supplier:

(a) must release an animal to its previous owner on receiving adequate proof of that ownership, and

(b) may release an animal to any other person.

(2) In the event that an animal is released, the licensed animal supplier must enter the following particulars on the records for the animal:

(a) the date on which the animal was released,

(b) the full name of the person who authorised the animal’s release,

(c) the full name and address of the person to whom the animal was released.

Part 3 - Conditions to be observed in relation to the supply of dogs and cats to licensed animal suppliers

10 Application of Part

This Part applies to dogs and cats only.

11 Animals supplied by persons generally

(1) A person may supply to a licensed animal supplier, and a licensed animal supplier may accept from any person, any animal for use in connection with animal research, but only if the animal is accompanied by a document that complies with subclause (2).

(2) The document referred to in subclause (1) must contain the following particulars:

(a) the species, breed or type, sex, approximate estimated age, and colour of the animal,

(b) details of any identification on the animal at the time of supply,

(c) proof of identification (including full name and address) of the person supplying the animal,

(d) a declaration signed and dated by the person supplying the animal, which states:

I am the owner/authorised agent of the owner of the animal described above, and I hereby give my approval to it being supplied alive for use in research conducted in accordance with the Animal Research Act 1985 which governs the conditions under which animal research may be conducted.

(3) Despite subclause (1), an impounding authority may not supply to a licensed animal supplier, and a licensed animal supplier may not accept from an impounding authority, any animal for use in connection with animal research.

(4) Subclause (3) applies not only to supply effected directly but also to supply effected indirectly by means of an agent or intermediary.

Part 4 - Miscellaneous

12 Delegation of functions of ethics committees

An ethics committee may delegate any of its functions to its ethics subcommittees other than the following functions relating to research proposals:

(a) considering the proposal,

(b) approving, or refusing to approve the proposal,

(c) revoking a previous approval of a proposal.