Independent animal breeding and supply units need an animal supplier's licence to supply animals for use in research.

Establishments and individuals breeding animals for their own use do not require Animal Suppliers’ Licences as long as certain conditions are met. These are -

• the use of animals is for a purpose approved by the Animal Ethics Committee; (AEC)
• the AEC approves the way in which the animals are managed and cared for;
• the AEC is satisfied that the use of animals is to be within the establishment (or by the individual) only; and
• the AEC has approved the breeding and management of the animals as part of a protocol.

A licence is not required to supply exempt animals.

"exempt animals" include:

• livestock: sheep, cattle, pigs, poultry, horses and goats
• commercially farmed deer
• commercially hatched fish
• free-living native animals, eg koalas, possums
• free-living exotic animals, eg feral goats, pigeons
• unowned animals under conditions described in the Animal Research Regulation
• privately owned animals under conditions described in the Animal Research Regulation
• animals from Commonwealth or interstate organisations where the organisation has been approved to supply animals by the Animal Research Review Panel
• bred for purpose animals under conditions described in the Animal Research Regulation
• animals used for observation studies under conditions described in the Animal Research Regulation
• animals with acquired medical or genetic conditions under conditions described in the Animal Research Regulation

(See Schedule 3 of the Animal Research Regulation 1995)

An Animal Supplier's Licence is required for the breeding and supply of all other animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, rats, mice, guinea pigs and monkeys.

Researchers who wish to use native animals must also receive approval to capture and hold them from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Special conditions relate to the supply of dogs and cats for use in research. (See Supply of dogs and cats for use in research)

Each Licensed Animal Supplier is required to appoint an Animal Ethics Committee to supervise their animal supply activities.

Annual application fee for an Animal Supplier’s Licence: $200.

How to apply

Obtain and complete Form J and return it to the Animal Welfare Unit with the fee made payable to NSW Agriculture.

Your application will be checked by staff of the Animal Welfare Unit. You may be asked for clarification of details. Renewal applications should provide details of major changes in the establishment's operations in the previous twelve months and information as to how any conditions that have been placed on the licence have been complied with.

Animal Welfare Unit Staff and a sub-committee of the Animal Research Review Panel will consider your application and make a recommendation to the full Panel. The Panel considers this recommendation and advises the Director-General of NSW Agriculture about whether or not your application should be approved and on whatconditions.

The Director-General will consider the Panel's recommendations and will decide within 90 days whether or not to grant approval.

You will be advised in writing of the outcome and will receive a certificate listing conditions and locations as appropriate.

Your licence will remain in force for 12 months and may be subject to anumber of conditions.

If you are unhappy with the decision, you can lodge an appeal with the Administrative Decisions Tribunal.