Animal Research Regulation 2010

The Animal Research Regulation 2010 came into force on 1 September 2010, and replaces the 2005 Regulation. There are only minor changes from the 2005 Regulation. The changes are summarised as follows:

• An increase in application fees of between 33 and 50 per cent for accreditations as animal research establishments and for animal supply licences. The fees have not been increased since a regulation was introduced in 1990, and do not cover administrative costs to government. The fee increases will go further towards recovering these costs. The increases are considered fair to applicants as there have been no increases in 20 years (Clauses 6  and 13).
• Changing the requirement to report “notifiable details” to the Director-General instead of to the Animal Research Review Panel (Clauses 7 and  14). “Notifiable details” are changes in Directors, changes in Animal Ethics Committee membership and convictions for offences. This will bring the notification of changes into line with the requirement for applications for accreditations and licences to be made to the Director-General.
• Removing the necessity to automatically fill vacant positions on Animal Ethics Committees (Clause 3 of Schedule 2 of the 2005 Regulation). Part 3 Clause 21 prescribes the composition of committee membership, and requires a minimum number of four members. If an establishment appoints committee members additional to the number prescribed, it should not be compelled to refill an additional position.
• Deleting Clause 6 (2) of the 2005 Regulation which prescribes the inclusion of an independent Animal Ethics Committee member, as the clause repeats Section 13 (5) of the Act.
• Removing the requirement for the Director-General to refer decisions on the waiver of fees for animal supply licences for schools to the Minister. This is in keeping with other decision-making powers of the Director-General under the Regulation (Clause 13).
• For members of the Animal Research Review Panel nominated by RSPCA NSW and Animal Societies' Federation (NSW), adding a requirement that their qualifications include involvement in animal welfare (Clause 20).
• Machinery amendments to update the name of the Department and other references, to clarify the meaning of some clauses, and to correct a typographical error.

The 2010 Regulation can be accessed at:  www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/maintop/view/inforce/subordleg+425+2010+cd+0+N

The Regulatory Impact Statement is published on the Industry and Investment website under "Legislative review and public consultation" at:  www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/about/legislation-acts/review