Frequently Asked Questions
Secretary’s Animal Care and Ethics Committee new fee schedule
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is committed to the continual improvement of animal welfare outcomes, and to ensuring access to a publicly available, expert Animal Ethics Committee for qualifying users. A new Fee Schedule for using the Secretary’s Animal Care and Ethics Committee (ACEC) will be introduced on 1 February 2025. Below are answers to some FAQs relating to this change.
What is the updated Fee Schedule for use of the Secretary’s ACEC?
From 1 February 2025, the fee and payment cycle associated with applications to the Secretary for Animal Research Authorities will change. The fee will be a one-off payment of $500 for all projects, payable when the initial or project renewal application is submitted. The updated fee is in line with the prescribed fee under the Animal Research Regulations, 2021 Section 9(1).
I already have a project approved by the ACEC. How will this affect me?
Your project will continue with the current, pre-February 2025 fee schedule until the end of the project’s approval period. If you wish to continue with the project beyond the project approval period, you will still need to apply for a project renewal approval. This project application will then be subject to the new fee schedule of $500, which covers the cost for the whole of the next project approval period.
My project renewal application is due to be submitted to the 3 February 2024 ACEC meeting. How will this affect me?
Any new or renewal applications submitted for review and approval at the 3 February 2025 meeting will be subject to the new $500 fee.
Under the new fee schedule, once I have paid $500 for a new project or project renewal application, will I still need to pay annual fees?
No. The $500 is paid at the time of submitting the application and the fee covers the project application, ACEC review and approval for the duration of the project approval period, which is generally 3 years.
Do I still need to submit an Annual Report for my project under the new fee schedule?
Yes. Under the NSW Animal Research legislation and the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th Edition, 2013, it is mandatory to submit an Annual Report for each project.
Will Animal Research Authorities still be issued for a maximum of 12 months?
Yes. Under the NSW Animal Research legislation, Animal Research Authorities are only allowed to be issued for a maximum of 12 months.
What is the difference between an Animal Research Project Approval Period and the Animal Research Authority Approval Period?
Animal Research Project approval period
When applications for animal research projects are submitted to the Secretary’s ACEC, the details and activities described in the application form are reviewed and approved by the ACEC. The project is then generally approved for up to a 3-year period (the project approval period). The project must then be undertaken complying with the details described in the application form. Changes to these details can be made via a modification application during the project approval period.
Once a project has been approved by the ACEC, an Animal Research Authority (ARA) is issued by the Secretary (or delegate) for the first 12 months of the project. Following receipt of the ARA by the researcher, the project may commence.
During this project approval period, the researcher is required to submit annual reports prior to each anniversary of the project approval date, in order to receive an ARA for the next 12 months.
At the end of this project approval period, if the researcher wishes to continue to the project, they need to submit a project renewal application form to the ACEC for approval for another 3-year period.
If the researcher does not want to continue the project at or before the end of the project approval period, a final report must be submitted to the ACEC.
Animal Research Authority Period
An Animal Research Authority (ARA) is the legal document which gives authority for animal research to occur under the NSW Animal Research Act 1985. It certifies an Animal Ethics Committee has approved the project and the activities described in the project application. Only those people named on an ARA can undertake the activities approved in the project (apart from C Class Bird and Bat banders). Only activities that have been approved in the project application can be carried out under the Authority,
Under the NSW animal research legislation ARAs remain in force for a maximum of 12 months and are only reissued for another 12 months following ACEC approval of an annual report. Annual reports provide details of activities undertaken during the 12-month Animal Research Authority period.
The Annual Report must be submitted in time for the AEC to be able to review and approve it at a meeting scheduled prior to the project ARA expiry date. This allows the ACEC to review the report and approve the project to continue for another 12 months and issue a new Authority before the expiry date.
In summary – Projects are generally approved for a project approval period of 3 years, however, ARAs only last for a 12-month period. New annual ARAs are only reissued after the ACEC has received, reviewed and approved the Annual Report for the project.
New Fee Schedule from 1 February 2025
