Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013
938. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the permitted humane methods of killing for different species of animals bred for or used in laboratory experiments at different stages of their development and or different body weights, under SI 566/2002, operable until 1 January 2013 [2072/13]
View answer1072. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the permitted humane methods of killing for different species of animals bred for or used in laboratory experiments at different stages of their development and or different body weights, under SI 566/2002, operative until 1 January 2013. [1510/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 938 and 1072 together.
I would like to advise the Deputy that EU Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes has been transposed into Irish law by European Union (Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes) Regulations 2012. These Regulations, which came into operation on 1 January 2013, considerably strengthen the protection of animals still needed for research and safety testing. They also play a significant role in terms of minimising the number of animals used and require that alternatives to animal testing be utilised where possible.
The Deputy's question relates to the European Communities (Amendment of Cruelty to Animals Act 1876) Regulations 2002 which were revoked by the aforementioned 2012 Regulations. While the 2002 Regulation did not specify specific methods of killing, it did require that killing of animals be done by a humane method (defined as "the killing of the animal with the minimum of physical and mental suffering, depending on the species"). In this context, account was to be taken of Commission Recommendation (2007/526/EU) on guidelines for the accommodation and care of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes. This Recommendation set out requirements in relation to humane killing. General requirements were outlined in relation to all species and where appropriate, more specific requirements were outlined in relation to certain species.
The new legislation, now in force, sets out a comprehensive range of measures that must be complied with in relation to methods of killing. It requires that where an animal (used or intended to be used in a procedure, or bred specifically so that their organs or tissues may be used for scientific purposes) is killed, the person responsible for the killing shall ensure that the method of killing with the minimum pain, suffering and distress is used, and the animal is killed by a competent person in the establishment of the breeder, supplier or user, as appropriate. Additionally it requires that in the case of the killing of an animal covered by Annex IV to the Directive, the breeder, supplier or user, or other person responsible, shall ensure that the appropriate method of killing as set out in that Annex is used.
