54CRehoming animals after research

#### 54C Rehoming animals after research 54C Rehoming animals after research > > (1) An authorised person who keeps a relevant animal for animal research must take all reasonable steps to rehome the animal on the occurrence of the first of the following— > > > > > (a) the animal ceases to be used by the authorised person for animal research, > > > > > (b) the animal has been kept by 1 or more authorised persons for animal research for a total of 3 years. > > > > Maximum penalty—30 penalty units. > > > (2) For the purpose of subsection (1), reasonable steps include giving the following information about the relevant animal to a suitable individual or an animal rescue organisation who may be able to rehome the animal— > > > > > (a) the animal’s species, breed, age, weight and gender, > > > > > (b) a description of the animal’s general health, physical condition and temperament, > > > > > (c) whether or not the animal is desexed, > > > > > (d) whether or not the animal is microchipped and, if so, the microchip number, > > > > > (e) the date the animal was last vaccinated and wormed, > > > > > (f) the medications the animal is currently taking, > > > > > (g) other information prescribed by the regulations. > > > (3) The information may be given under subsection (2) by a database maintained by the Department for the purposes of rehoming animals kept for animal research. > > > (4) Subsection (1)(b) does not apply to an authorised person who keeps an animal for animal research if— > > > > > (a) on application from the authorised person, the Panel approves the keeping of the animal for research for longer than 3 years, and > > > > > (b) the authorised person complies with any conditions of the approval. > > > (5) An application for approval under subsection (4)(a) must not be made without the approval of the animal care and ethics committee supervising the research project. > > > (6) The animal care and ethics committee must not give approval unless— > > > > > (a) the committee is satisfied the animal research project is justified to run for longer than 3 years, and > > > > > (b) at least 1 Category A member of the committee is satisfied animal welfare will not be compromised. > > > (7) An application under subsection (4)(a) must include— > > > > > (a) proof of the animal care and ethics committee’s approval, and > > > > > (b) the reasons the committee is satisfied the project is justified to run for more than 3 years. > > > (8) The regulations may make provision about applications for the Panel’s approval under subsection (4). > > > (9) This section does not apply to an animal seized under section 51A that is in the possession of an inspector. > > > (10) The regulations may prescribe requirements for a database maintained under this section. > > > (11) In this section— > > > > Australian Code means the document published by the Australian Government entitled Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes as in force from time to time. > > > > Category A member, of a committee, means a member of the committee referred to in the Australian Code, section 2.2.4(i). > > Note— > > An authorised person is not required to rehome a companion animal owned by an individual and primarily kept by the individual for purposes other than animal research. > > **s 54C:** Ins 2022 No 66, Sch 1\[4\].