ontario regulation 193/26

made under the

Animals for Research Act

Made: June 18, 2026
Filed: June 22, 2026
Published on e-Laws: June 22, 2026
Published in The Ontario Gazette: July 11, 2026

Amending Reg. 24 of R.R.O. 1990

(RESEARCH FACILITIES AND SUPPLY FACILITIES)

1. (1) Section 1 of Regulation 24 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 is amended by adding the following definition:

“CCAC Euthanasia Guidelines” means the document entitled “CCAC guidelines on: euthanasia of animals used in science”, prepared by the Canadian Council on Animal Care and published on its website, as that document exists from time to time; (“Lignes directrices du CCPA sur l’euthanasie”)

(2) The definition of “euthanasia” in section 1 of the Regulation is amended by striking out “means the deliberate infliction of an intended death upon an animal” and substituting “means to destroy an animal by the deliberate infliction of an intended death upon the animal”.

(3) The definition of “game animal” in section 1 of the Regulation is revoked.

(4) Section 1 of the Regulation is amended by adding the following subsection:

(2) A reference in this Regulation to,

(a)  a method set out in Table 1 to the CCAC Euthanasia Guidelines is a reference only to the particular method set out in the column entitled “Acceptable Methods” in that Table, and is not a reference to anything contained in the column entitled “Details and Cautions” or anything else set out in the CCAC Euthanasia Guidelines; or

(b)  a method set out in Table 2 to the CCAC Euthanasia Guidelines is a reference only to the particular method set out in the column entitled “Methods” in that Table, and is not a reference to anything contained in the column entitled “Details and Cautions” or anything else set out in the CCAC Euthanasia Guidelines.

2. (1) Clause 4 (4) (b) of the Regulation is amended by striking out “to a height adequate for sanitary maintenance” at the end.

(2) Section 4 of the Regulation is amended by adding the following subsection:

(4.1) With respect to a research facility registered under the Act or a supply facility whose operator is licensed under the Act on the day section 2 (2) of Ontario Regulation 193/26 comes into force, subsection (4),

(a)  as it reads immediately before that day, continues to apply with respect to a room within the research facility or supply facility until the day the room that contains the wall is renovated; and

(b)  as it reads on that day, applies to the wall on and after the day the room is renovated.

3. The Regulation is amended by adding the following section:

4.1 (1) Subject to subsection (2), areas where cages are washed and all other parts of the research facility or supply facility that are accessible to animals, including corridors and hallways that are used to move animals between rooms, shall be,

(a)  soundly constructed;

(b)  impervious to water;

(c)  constructed of material that may be readily sanitized; and

(d)  maintained in a good state of repair free from cracks, holes and other damage.

(2) With respect to a research facility registered under the Act or a supply facility whose operator is licensed under the Act on the day section 3 of Ontario Regulation 193/26 comes into force, subsection (1) does not apply to an area referred to in subsection (1) within the research facility or supply facility until the day the area is renovated.

4. (1) Subsection 12 (2) of the Regulation is amended by striking out the portion before clause (a) and substituting the following:

(2) The operator of every research facility shall maintain within the research facility a record of every dog and cat in the research facility and shall preserve the record within the research facility for at least three years from the earlier of the date that the dog or cat was last in the research facility and the date the dog or cat died, and the record shall include,

. . . . .

(2) Subsection 12 (2) of the Regulation is amended by adding the following clause:

(0.a)  details about the housing and care of the dog or cat;

(3) Subsection 12 (3) of the Regulation is amended by striking out the portion before clause (a) and substituting the following:

(3) The operator of every research facility shall maintain within the research facility a record of every animal in the research facility other than a dog or cat and shall preserve the record within the research facility for at least three years from the earlier of the date that the animal was last in the research facility and the date the animal died, and the record shall include,

. . . . .

(4) Subsection 12 (3) of the Regulation is amended by striking out “and” at the end of clause (b) and by adding the following clause:

(b.1)  details about the housing and care of the animals; and

(5) Section 12 of the Regulation is amended by adding the following subsection:

(4.1) Every licensed operator of a supply facility shall maintain within the supply facility a record of every animal or group of animals that is euthanized by the licensed operator for a period of one year from the date the animal or group of animals is euthanized and the record shall include the date the animal or group of animals was euthanized and the method of euthanasia used.

5. The Regulation is amended by adding the following section:

12.1 The records that an operator of a registered research facility is required to retain under subsection 17 (3.2) of the Act must be kept at the research facility for at least three years after,

(a)  if the research project is carried out, the date the research project ends; or

(b)  if a decision was made not to proceed with the research project, the date the decision was made.

6. (1) Section 27 of the Regulation is amended by adding the following subsection:

(2.1) Every registered research facility in connection with which an animal is subjected to surgical procedures performed with the intention that the animal will survive shall ensure its protocol for how animals will be used in research describes the removal of non-ambulatory animals from the post-operative recovery area.

(2) Subsection 27 (3) of the Regulation is revoked and the following substituted:

(3) No animal shall be removed from the post-operative recovery area in a research facility until it is ambulatory or may be removed in accordance with the protocol referred to in subsection (2.1).

7. (1) Subsection 28 (1) of the Regulation is amended by striking out “and” at the end of clause (b) and by adding the following clauses:

(d)  in a manner that results in rapid loss of consciousness, followed by or accompanied by cessation of respiratory and cardiac function and an ultimate loss of brain function; and

(e)  using a method of euthanasia that is appropriate for the species, age and health status of the animal.

(2) Subsection 28 (2) of the Regulation is revoked and the following substituted:

(2) After euthanasia is carried out, the operator of the research facility shall ensure the death of the animal has been verified before the disposal of the remains of the animal.

(3) No person shall use a euthanasia method with respect to any animal in a research facility or supply facility unless it is a method that is permitted under sections 29 to 32.

8. Sections 29 to 32 of the Regulation are revoked and the following substituted:

29. (1) Subject to subsection (3), euthanasia may be carried out with respect to an animal in a research facility using an acceptable method set out in Table 1 (Summary Chart of Acceptable Methods of Euthanasia for Experimental Animals) to the CCAC Euthanasia Guidelines that is applicable to the animal’s classification and common name as set out in that Table.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), euthanasia may be carried out with respect to an animal in a research facility using a conditionally acceptable method set out in Table 2 (Conditionally acceptable methods) to the CCAC Euthanasia Guidelines that is applicable to the animal’s species as set out in that Table, if all of the following circumstances exist:

1.  It is not reasonable or feasible to use a method set out in Table 1 (Summary Chart of Acceptable Methods of Euthanasia for Experimental Animals) to the CCAC Euthanasia Guidelines due to the nature of the research being conducted or to emergency circumstances that arise during the course of the research, and such justification is set out in the research facility’s protocol for how animals will be used in research.

2.  Specific rules for the use of the method are clearly set out in the research facility’s protocol for how animals will be used in research.

3.  The personnel administering the method are appropriately trained in the particular method of euthanasia.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply with respect to the following animals:

1.  Animals referred to by the common name “fish” in Table 1 mentioned in subsection (1) or as the species “fish” in Table 2 mentioned in subsection (2).

2.  Animals referred to by the common name “wildlife”, “free-ranging mammals” or “free-ranging birds” in Table 1 mentioned in subsection (1).

30. (1) Subject to subsection (2), euthanasia may be carried out with respect to an animal in a supply facility using,

(a)  an acceptable method set out in Table 1 (Summary Chart of Acceptable Methods of Euthanasia for Experimental Animals) to the CCAC Euthanasia Guidelines that is applicable to the animal’s classification and common name as set out in that Table; or

(b)  a conditionally acceptable method set out in Table 2 (Conditionally acceptable methods) to the CCAC Euthanasia Guidelines that is applicable to the animal’s species as set out in that Table.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply with respect to the following animals:

1.  Animals referred to by the common name “fish” in Table 1 mentioned in subsection (1).

2.  Animals referred to by the common name “wildlife”, “free-ranging mammals” or “free-ranging birds” in Table 1 mentioned in subsection (1).

31. The following euthanasia methods are permitted in a research facility or supply facility with respect to an animal referred to by the common name “fish” in Table 1 (Summary Chart of Acceptable Methods of Euthanasia for Experimental Animals) to the CCAC Euthanasia Guidelines:

1.  The administration of anaesthesia to the point of loss of equilibrium, followed by a physical or chemical method to cause brain death.

2.  If the method described in paragraph 1 is not feasible, the physical destruction of brain tissue by pithing or crushing the brain.

32. The following rules apply in regards to the carrying out of euthanasia in a research facility with respect to an animal referred to by the common name “wildlife”, “free-ranging mammals” or “free-ranging birds” in Table 1 (Summary Chart of Acceptable Methods of Euthanasia for Experimental Animals) to the CCAC Euthanasia Guidelines:

1.  The method of euthanasia chosen should minimize pain and discomfort and not prolong death unnecessarily.

2.  The method of euthanasia chosen should be suited to the objectives of the research.

3.  The operator of the facility shall consider,

i.  techniques that least interfere with necropsy procedures or analysis, and

ii.  techniques for similar animals that are listed in the CCAC Euthanasia Guidelines.

Commencement

9. This Regulation comes into force on the day section 7 of Schedule 1 to the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 comes into force.