Comply with animal welfare legislation, ethical and social requirements and personal responsibilities in animal technology

This standard covers your personal responsibilities for maintaining your duty of care for animal health and welfare in your work in accordance with legal, ethical and social requirements.

When working with research animals recognise humanity’s obligation to them and your responsibility for ensuring their proper care and treatment at all times.

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) sets out the specific training and learning outcomes required for different roles in Animal Technology. This guidance applies to all of the UK and is implemented in England, Scotland and Wales by the Home Office and in Northern Ireland by the Department of Health NI. All training courses must be accredited.

You should accept that people have differing views, within society, relating to the scientific uses of animals and recognise the need to respect these.

This standard is for all those working in animal technology in Home Office designated establishments.

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1. comply with legislation, codes of practice and the organisation’s policies relating to the care and welfare of animals in a Home Office designated establishment
2. be aware of project licence information and instructions in relation to day-to-day animal care and welfare
3. identify ethical responsibilities, best practice and obligations, including the application of the 3Rs, Replacement, Reduction and Refinement
4. recognise indicators of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm in animals
5. recognise and act on humane end points
6. report to the Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS), Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer (NACWO) or named person where there are animal welfare concerns
7. recognise the limitations of your authority and competence
8. maintain working relationships with colleagues, scientists and customers
9. keep up to date with and share developments in best practice and advances in technology
10. contribute to a culture of care through open communication, showing respect for animals and colleagues
11. support the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion
12. promote best practice and ethical behaviour within the organisation in line with the organisation’s policies
13. seek assistance from the appropriate person where breaches of regulations are suspected in accordance with legal requirements and the organisation’s procedures
14. confirm that records are maintained in accordance with the relevant legislation and the organisation’s procedures
15. contribute to the ethical decision-making process, where appropriate
16. reflect on and evaluate the decision-making process
17. support colleagues who wish to raise concerns about an ethical issue

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1. the business environment in which the organisation operates and your role within it
2. the legal, ethical and social responsibilities of the organisation and how your role contributes to a culture of care
3. the current and emerging social concerns and expectations within your sector
4. the corporate and social responsibilities to develop more sustainable approaches to scientific research
5. the legislation regulating the scientific use of animals and the activities of those carrying out scientific procedures involving them, and where you can find information and support
6. your responsibilities for the care and welfare of animals in a Home Office designated establishment under the relevant animal welfare legislation and codes of practice, including the five domains and how they apply to laboratory species
7. the role of the bodies responsible for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes
8. the role and responsibilities of the NACWO, NIO, NTCO and NVS in your organisation and who is responsible for compliance
9. the responsibilities of the personal licence holder and the project licence holder
10. the meaning of the term Regulated Procedure under the ASPA
11. which species are included in the scope of the ASPA and the species of animals protected under current legislation
12. the ethics of using animals for research and the importance of assessing the harms and benefits
13. the objectives and application of the 3Rs, Replacement, Reduction and Refinement and where to find up-to-date information
14. the importance of promoting good animal welfare practices and following the Home Office codes of practice relevant to day-to-day welfare and husbandry of animals
15. the concept of harms to animals including avoidable and unavoidable suffering, direct, contingent and cumulative suffering
16. the severity classification system and the effect of cumulative severity
17. the indicators of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm in animals
18. the term humane end point
19. the regulations regarding the re-use of animals.
20. the organisational policies and procedures that support colleagues to meet the requirements specified
21. the support available to enable colleagues to report concerns about not meeting requirements
22. who to approach to report suspected breaches in regulations
23. the importance of continuing professional development (CPD) and sharing best practice
24. the information sources available to keep up to date with advances in working practices and technology
25. the role of professional bodies for compliance, professional guidance and information
26. the importance of reflecting on your performance and decisions made
27. the information that needs to be recorded and the organisation’s procedures for this

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ASPA – Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act

AWERB - Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body

NACWO – Named Animal Care and Welfare officer

NIO – Named Information Officer

NTCO – Named Training and Competency Officer

NVS – Named Veterinary Surgeon

The 5 domains of animal welfare:
• nutrition
• environment
• health
• behaviour
• mental state

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2

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2030

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Current

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Original

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Lantra

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LANAT34

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Animal Technologist, Auxiliary Technician, Hygiene Technician, Licensed Animal Technologist, Senior Animal Technologist

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6129

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ethics; duty of care; animal welfare

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