Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Fees) Order 2026

UK New Legislation

Published April 6th, 2026

Detected March 16th, 2026

Summary

The UK Home Office has issued the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Fees) Order 2026, increasing licensing fees for scientific procedures. The fixed element of the fee increases from £1007 to £1168, and the variable element increases from £329 to £382, effective April 6, 2026. The 2024 Fees Order is revoked.

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What changed

The UK Home Office, through the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Fees) Order 2026, has increased the fees associated with scientific procedures licences. The fixed element of the annual licence fee has risen from £1007 to £1168, and the variable element per person holding a personal licence has increased from £329 to £382. This Order revokes the previous 2024 Fees Order and is made under section 8 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Regulated entities holding licences under section 2C of the Act must be aware of these increased fees, which will be payable for periods beginning on or after April 6, 2026. While no specific compliance deadline is mentioned beyond the effective date, licence holders should budget for these higher costs. The explanatory note suggests no significant impact on the private, voluntary, or public sectors is foreseen, implying no major operational changes are required beyond the fee adjustment.

What to do next

Update internal budgets to reflect increased licensing fees for scientific procedures.
Ensure accurate payment of the new fixed (£1168) and variable (£382) fee elements for licence periods starting April 6, 2026.

Source document (simplified)

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 291

ANIMALS

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Fees) Order 2026

Made

12th March 2026

Laid before Parliament

16th March 2026

Coming into force

6th April 2026

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 8 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986(1).

Citation, commencement and extent

—(1) This Order may be cited as the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Fees) Order 2026 and comes into force on 6th April 2026.

(2) This Order extends to England and Wales and Scotland.

Fee payable under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986

—(1) The fee payable by the holder of a licence granted under section 2C of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (licensing of undertakings)(2) is to be determined as follows.

(2) For each period of 12 months beginning with 6th April, there is to be a fixed and a variable element of the fee.

(3) The fixed element is £1168, which is payable for a licence which is in force for the whole or any part of that period.

(4) The variable element is £382 for each person who, during the whole or any part of that period, holds a personal licence(3) which specifies the same establishment as that specified in the licence granted under section 2C as the place at which an undertaking can be carried on.

Revocation

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Fees) Order 2024(4) is revoked.

Hanson

Minister of State

12th March 2026

Home Office

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order determines the fee payable by the holder of a licence issued under section 2C of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (c. 14). Article 2 increases the fixed element of the fee from £1007 to £1168 and the variable element from £329 to £382.

Article 3 revokes the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Fees) Order 2024.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

(1) 1986 c. 14. Section 8 was amended by S.I. 2012/3039.

(2) A licence granted under section 2C authorises the holder to carry on, at a specified place, an undertaking which involves the activities mentioned in section 2B(2) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 or such of those activities as are specified in the licence. Section 2C was inserted by S.I. 2012/3039 and amended by S.I. 2019/72.

(3) A personal licence is a licence granted in accordance with section 4 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which qualifies the holder personally to apply regulated procedures. Section 4 was amended by S.I. 1998/1974 and S.I. 2012/3039.

(4) S.I. 2024/362.