Applying for a licence to use animals for scientific purposes
The following information is relevant to individuals or institutions aiming to be issued a licence to use animals for scientific purposes under the Animal Welfare Act 2002 (AW Act). If you currently hold a licence, you may be eligible to submit an application to renew that licence. For further information, please go to the Renewing a licence to use animals for scientific purposes page.
Before applying for a new licence, individuals and institutions need to ensure the following:
- the individual/institution has made appropriate arrangements with an animal ethics committee; and
- the appropriate forms have been obtained, completed, and signed.
Before applying, applicants should read the Licences to use animals for scientific purposes application guidelines.
Where applicants want to obtain licences to use and supply animals for scientific purposes, a separate application for each licence must be made.
Required forms and documentation
To apply for a licence to use animals for scientific purposes, the following forms must be completed:
- Application for a licence to use/supply animals for scientific purposes;
- Payment form; and
- Statutory declaration (relevant to the applicants State or Territory).
In addition to the above forms, applicants that have not established an animal ethics committee are required to make arrangements for the animal ethics committee of another institution to act as its animal ethics committee. In this circumstance, a formal agreement between the applicant and the institution to use its animal ethics committee must be provided in the licence application.
Applicants that are schools may consider contacting the Department of Education’s Schools Animal Ethics Committee. To contact the Schools Animal Ethics Committee, please go to their website.
Applicants that use animals for scientific purposes in environmental science disciplines may consider contacting the Wildlife Animal Ethics Committee. To contact the Wildlife Animal Ethics Committee, please go to their website.
When assessing a licence application, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development may seek clarification or further information from the applicant.
Fees
Applicants may apply for a licence to use animals for scientific purposes for one, two or three years. The prescribed fee is $100 per year. A licence is only valid until the end of that calendar year of which the fee is payable for (examples in table below).
| Application submitted | Payment received | Licence end date |
| January 2017 | $100 | 31/12/2017 |
| August 2017 | $100 | 31/12/2017 |
There are no refunds for licence fees once the assessment process has commenced.
Submitting an application
To submit an application, please send an email with the required attachments to scientific.licensing@dpird.wa.gov.au. Once a complete application has been submitted, it may take up to five weeks for a licence to be approved.