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							<p>The global codes of conduct and ethical principles for animal research are implemented differently in different countries. This is due, in part, to the fact that governments fund and regulate research through different offices and programmes. Public attitudes towards animals and their use in research vary from country to country.</p>
							<p>Given the different ways in which care and use policies are written, you must be familiar with:</p>
							<ul>
								<li>Your national policies</li>
								<li>Your institutional policies</li>
								<li>The policies of other countries in which you conduct research.</li>
							</ul>
							<p>This screen introduces you to national policies in the UK. If you plan to conduct research in another country, check with your institutional office to get advice on how to gain information about their policies.</p>

							<h3>Policies for the care and use of animals in research in the UK</h3>

							<interactive-text><p>In most countries, the standards and procedures for the care and use of animals in research are set out at the national level. The situation in the UK is summarised in the Q&A questions below.</p></interactive-text>
							<accessible-text><p>In most countries, the standards and procedures for the care and use of animals in research are set out at the national level. The situation in the UK is summarised in the following Q&A questions.</p></accessible-text>

							<instructional-text><p>Click on each question to access a discussion of the situation in the UK.</p></instructional-text>
							<accessible-text><p>Continue on for an overview of the situation in the UK.</p></accessible-text>

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									<acc-title><strong>National policies.</strong> Does the UK have national regulations or guidance for the responsible care and use of animals in research?</acc-title>
									<acc-contents>
										<p>Yes. In the UK, researchers are bound by the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, 1986 (ASPA).</p>
									</acc-contents>
								</acc-item>
								<acc-item>
									<acc-title><strong>Coverage.</strong> What areas of research are covered by the regulations?</acc-title>
									<acc-contents>
										<p>The UK regulations apply to any scientific procedure involving a 'protected animal' that is likely to cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm to that animal. The 'threshold' for procedures is any intervention for which the pain/discomfort experienced by the animal is equivalent to, or in excess of, that which would be caused by a needle used in standard veterinary practice (ASPA, 1986).</p>
									</acc-contents>
								</acc-item>
								<acc-item>
									<acc-title><strong>Animals.</strong> What animals are covered by the regulations?</acc-title>
									<acc-contents>
										<p>'Protected animals' is a term that encompasses any living vertebrate, apart from humans, and any living cephalopod (ASPA, 1986). If a vertebrate is in its foetal, larval or embryonic form, it only becomes protected when: it is two thirds of the way through the gestation or incubation period (in the case of a mammal, bird or reptile); or once it has become capable of independent feeding (in the case of other animals).</p>
									</acc-contents>
								</acc-item>
								<acc-item>
									<acc-title><strong>Review.</strong> What organisations or committees are responsible for reviewing animal research experiments?</acc-title>
									<acc-contents>
										<p>The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) enforces ASPA.</p>
										<p>In addition to ASRU, all institutions will have an Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Board (AWERB) that will review all animal research experiments. The remit of AWERBs differs between institutions, with some also reviewing research with non-protected species (e.g. invertebrates).</p>
									</acc-contents>
								</acc-item>
								<acc-item>
									<acc-title><strong>Review authority.</strong> Under what authority do the review organisations or committees operate?</acc-title>
									<acc-contents>
										<p>ASRU is a branch of the Home Office in England, Scotland and Wales, and the Department for Health, Social Security and Public Safety in Northern Ireland. AWERBs operate primarily under ASPA (part of ASPA is that institutions that carry out animal research must have an AWERB), but also under local university/institutional policies. For example, under ASPA it might be appropriate, in some cases, to carry out research on certain protected species (e.g. non-human primates), but the institution at which you are based may not allow this research if they fear that it could have reputational repercussions.</p>
									</acc-contents>
								</acc-item>
								<acc-item>
									<acc-title><strong>Review criteria.</strong> What are review organisations or review committees expected to review?</acc-title>
									<acc-contents>
										<p>Following AWERB approval of the research protocol at their institution, the researcher may be required (depending on whether the work falls under ASPA) to apply for a 'project licence' from the Home Office. This is a lengthy document that outlines all protocols to be carried out and numbers to be used, as well as a full justification. If approved, these licences will last up to five years, at which point a report of the previous licence will be submitted along with a new project licence or continuation of the previous licence. For severe protocols with protected species, or for any protocol that involves a regulated procedure using primates, the researcher must appear before a Home Office Committee (the Animals in Science Committee) to face questions about their work.</p>
									</acc-contents>
								</acc-item>
								<acc-item>
									<acc-title><strong>Training.</strong> Must researchers who use animals in research have special training?</acc-title>
									<acc-contents>
										<p>Any researcher who wishes to carry out regulated procedures with protected animals must undergo specific Home Office-approved training and apply for a 'personal licence'. They must also be signed off by their local NTCO as being competent to work with the animals on the specific protocols that they will carry out, and to confirm that their training remains up to date.</p>
									</acc-contents>
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								<h4>National policies. Does the UK have national regulations or guidance for the responsible care and use of animals in research?</h4>
								<p>Yes. In the UK, researchers are bound by the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, 1986 (ASPA).</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Coverage. What areas of research are covered by the regulations?</h4>
								<p>The UK regulations apply to any scientific procedure involving a 'protected animal' that is likely to cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm to that animal. The 'threshold' for procedures is any intervention for which the pain/discomfort experienced by the animal is equivalent to, or in excess of, that which would be caused by a needle used in standard veterinary practice (ASPA, 1986).</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Animals. What animals are covered by the regulations?</h4>
								<p>'Protected animals' is a term that encompasses any living vertebrate, apart from humans, and any living cephalopod (ASPA, 1986). If a vertebrate is in its foetal, larval or embryonic form, it only becomes protected when: it is two thirds of the way through the gestation or incubation period (in the case of a mammal, bird or reptile); or once it has become capable of independent feeding (in the case of other animals).</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Review. What organisations or committees are responsible for reviewing animal research experiments?</h4>
								<p>The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) enforces ASPA.</p>
								<p>In addition to ASRU, all institutions will have an Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Board (AWERB) that will review all animal research experiments. The remit of AWERBs differs between institutions, with some also reviewing research with non-protected species (e.g. invertebrates).</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Review authority. Under what authority do the review organisations or committees operate?</h4>
								<p>ASRU is a branch of the Home Office in England, Scotland and Wales, and the Department for Health, Social Security and Public Safety in Northern Ireland. AWERBs operate primarily under ASPA (part of ASPA is that institutions that carry out animal research must have an AWERB), but also under local university/institutional policies. For example, under ASPA it might be appropriate, in some cases, to carry out research on certain protected species (e.g. non-human primates), but the institution at which you are based may not allow this research if they fear that it could have reputational repercussions.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Review criteria. What are review organisations or review committees expected to review?</h4>
								<p>Following AWERB approval of the research protocol at their institution, the researcher may be required (depending on whether the work falls under ASPA) to apply for a 'project licence' from the Home Office. This is a lengthy document that outlines all protocols to be carried out and numbers to be used, as well as a full justification. If approved, these licences will last up to five years, at which point a report of the previous licence will be submitted along with a new project licence or continuation of the previous licence. For severe protocols with protected species, or for any protocol that involves a regulated procedure using primates, the researcher must appear before a Home Office Committee (the Animals in Science Committee) to face questions about their work.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Training. Must researchers who use animals in research have special training?</h4>
								<p>Any researcher who wishes to carry out regulated procedures with protected animals must undergo specific Home Office-approved training and apply for a 'personal licence'. They must also be signed off by their local NTCO as being competent to work with the animals on the specific protocols that they will carry out, and to confirm that their training remains up to date.</p>
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								<pod-modal-heading>Useful links</pod-modal-heading>
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										<p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/research-and-testing-using-animals" target="_blank">UK Home Office &ndash; Animal Testing and Research</a></p>
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							<h3>Summary</h3>

							<p>Before you commence any work with animals, you should be aware that it can take a long time before you are in a position to start the research &ndash; this is particularly true if the work will be subject to ASPA regulation. Do ensure that you leave at least six to seven months to get the process completed.</p>
							<p>When preparing for your research to begin, you are expected to:</p>

							<ul>
								<li>Know which animals are subject to regulation</li>
								<li>Know which activities are subject to regulation</li>
								<li>Understand and follow the rules for developing and getting approval for projects</li>
								<li>Obtain appropriate training for yourself (and, if you manage others, your staff)</li>
								<li>Accept continuing responsibility for compliance through all stages of a project.</li>
							</ul>

							<interactive-text><p>How you get approval to conduct your research and ensure that it meets the standards above is established by your national and local policies, as well as the policies of any other countries in which you conduct your research.</p></interactive-text>
							<accessible-text><p>How you get approval to conduct your research and ensure that it meets these standards is established by your national and local policies, as well as the policies of any other countries in which you conduct your research.</p></accessible-text>
							
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