Animal research licences last year

SEVENTY-SIX licences were granted for research on animals in Northern Ireland last year, according to the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) Edwin Poots.

By The Newsroom

Published 7th Jul 2011, 10:24 BST

This was down from 95 in 2008 and 98 in 2009. In 2010 16 project licences and 60 personal licences were granted.

The Health Minister stated:

“A project licence is granted when the Department considers that the use of living animals in a programme of work, for a purpose permitted by the Act, is justified and that the methods proposed are appropriate.”

Mr Poots added: “A personal licence is the Department’s endorsement of the holder as a suitable and competent person to carry out specified procedures on specified animals, under supervision where necessary.”