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Blackwell Publishing LTD released the Second Edition of Laboratory Animal Law: Legal Control of the Use of Animals in Research by Kevin Dolan in 2007. The first edition was published in 2000 by Blackwell Publishing LTD and was written by Dolan as well. Dolan is a well-versed authority of laboratory animal law in the United Kingdom. This second edition explains the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 [A(SP)A] with relation to the legal responsibilities of the scientific community to animals and their welfare in animal research and laboratories. This reference book was written to assist researchers, technicians, and the general public in understanding the legal aspects and duties of animal care and use in the field.
The text is divided into three sections. Part I: Introduction briefly discusses the inception of animal cruelty and welfare law history in the United Kingdom. Part II: The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 is an excellent generalized overview of the A(SP)A in layman’s terms. Key features of the A(SP)A are explained and written in understandable terminology with anecdotes and notable references listed. The importance of the personal and project licenses cannot be underestimated. The legal obligations set forth by the A(SP)A which the Inspectorate follows when reviewing an application for project license are daunting to the uninitiated. The applicant must include relevant details of the project including the background and objective of the project, techniques and procedures, species and numbers of animals involved in the project, where and when the project will be, establishment of the severity bands, and specify the person licensed and deputies involved.