Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, sometimes referred to as ASPA, is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (1986 c. 14) passed in 1986, which regulates the use of animals used for research in the UK. The Act permits studies to be conducted using animals for procedures such as breeding genetically modified animals, medical and veterinary advances, education, environmental toxicology and includes procedures requiring surgery, if certain criteria are met. Revised legislation came into force on 1 January 2013. The original act related to the 1986 EU Directive 86/609/EEC which was updated and replaced by EU Directive 2010/63/EU
Parliament of the United Kingdom | |
| Long title | An Act to make new provision for the protection of animals used for experimental or other scientific purposes. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 1986 c. 14 |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales; Scotland; Northern Ireland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 20 May 1986 |
| Commencement | 1 January 1987 (part) 1 January 1990 (full) |
Status: Amended | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
In 2002, a Government select committee inquiry described the Act as the "...tightest system of regulation in the world" in relation to the regulation of using animals for research.