S.L. 439.13 Art. 15Anaesthesia.

(1) The Department shall establish and maintain a monitoring and control system for the enforcement of procedures which shall be carried out under general or local anaesthesia, unless it is inappropriate, and that analgesia or another appropriate method shall be used to ensure that pain, suffering and distress are kept to a minimum. Procedures involving serious injuries which may cause severe pain shall not be carried out without anaesthesia.

(2) When deciding on the appropriateness of using anaesthesia, the following shall be taken into account:

(a) whether anaesthesia is more traumatic to the animal than the procedure itself; and

(b) whether anaesthesia is incompatible with the purpose of the procedure.

(3) The Department shall further establish and maintain a monitoring and enforcement system to ensure that animals are not given any drug to stop or restrict their showing pain without an adequate level of anaesthesia or analgesia. In such cases, a scientific justification shall be provided, accompanied by the details of the anaesthetic or analgesic regimen.

(4) An animal, which may suffer pain once anaesthesia has worn off, shall be treated with pre-emptive and post-operative analgesics or other appropriate pain-relieving methods provided that it is compatible with the purpose of the procedure.

(5) As soon as the purpose of the procedure has been achieved appropriate action shall be taken to minimise the suffering of the animal.