Animal Welfare Act 1999

Use of animals in research, testing, and teaching - Animal ethics committees

99: Functions and powers

You could also call this:

"What an animal ethics committee can and must do to protect animals"

An animal ethics committee has jobs to do, including considering and deciding on projects. You can think of a project as a plan that involves animals, and the committee makes sure it is okay to go ahead with the plan. The committee also checks that people are following the rules and taking good care of the animals.

The committee can set conditions for projects, which means they can say what people must do or not do when working with animals. They can also change or cancel these conditions if needed. The committee monitors how animals are being managed and checks the facilities where they are kept to make sure everything is okay.

The committee can also decide if a project should be allowed to continue, and if not, they can stop it. They can even suggest changes to the code of ethical conduct, which is like a set of rules for how to treat animals. Under section 84(1)(a), the committee considers and decides on some project applications. Each committee has the power to do what is necessary to carry out its jobs.

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This page was last updated on 19 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM51224.

Topics:

Environment and resources > Farming and fishingHealth and wellbeing > Public health

98: Establishment of animal ethics committees, or

"Setting up a team to help look after animals properly"

100: Criteria, or

"Things to consider when deciding if a project with animals is okay"

Part 6Use of animals in research, testing, and teaching
Animal ethics committees

99Functions and powers

The functions of an animal ethics committee are—
to consider and determine on behalf of the code holder applications for the approval of projects:
to consider and determine, under section 84(1)(a), applications for the approval of projects:
to set, vary, and revoke conditions of project approvals:
to monitor compliance with conditions of project approvals:
to monitor animal management practices and facilities to ensure compliance with the terms of the code of ethical conduct:
to consider and determine applications for the renewal of project approvals:
to suspend or revoke, where necessary, project approvals:
to recommend to the code holder amendments to the code of ethical conduct.

Each animal ethics committee has such powers as are reasonably necessary to enable it to carry out its functions.