NSWIn ForceAct
Animal Research Act 1985
54CRehoming animals after research
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 54C
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Animal Research Act 1985.
#### 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\[4\].