Animals for Research Act

R.R.O. 1990, REGULATION 22

GENERAL

Consolidation Period:  From June 22, 2026 to the e-Laws currency date.

Last amendment: 191/26.

Legislative History: 434/95, 289/96, 293/06, 191/26.

This is the English version of a bilingual regulation.

1. (1) Revoked:  O. Reg. 434/95, s. 1.

(2)  Revoked:  O. Reg. 434/95, s. 1.

(3) The fee for a licence as an operator of a supply facility is $100.  O. Reg. 289/96, s. 1.

Note: On January 1, 2027, the day section 7 of Schedule 1 to the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 comes into force, subsection 1 (3) of the Regulation is amended by adding “or a renewal of a licence” after “fee for a licence”. (See: O. Reg. 191/26, s. 1)

(4) A licence expires with the 31st day of December of the year of issue.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 1 (4).

(5) Every licence shall have listed therein the types or species of animals that are bred and reared by the licensee.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 1 (5).

(6) The Director shall at any time upon the application of the licensee insert additional types or species of animals in a licence without additional fee.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 1 (6).

(7) No licensee shall sell or offer for sale an animal for use in a research facility unless the animal is of a type or species listed in the licence.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 1 (7).

(8) A licence is not transferable.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 1 (8).

2. (1), (2) Revoked:  O. Reg. 434/95, s. 2 (1).

(3) The fee for registration of a research facility is,

Note: On January 1, 2027, the day section 7 of Schedule 1 to the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 comes into force, subsection 2 (3) of the Regulation is amended by adding “or a renewal of a registration” after “fee for registration” in the portion before clause (a). (See: O. Reg. 191/26, s. 2)

(a) $200 for one research facility;

(b) $100 for each additional research facility under the control of the same operator.  O. Reg. 289/96, s. 2.

(4) Subject to subsection 4 (2) of the Act, where a research facility does not fully conform to the regulations the Director may register the research facility subject to the condition that the research facility conform fully with the regulations before the date determined by the Director and set out in the registration and any certificate thereof.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 2 (4).

(5) Registration of a research facility is subject to the following conditions:

1. The registration expires with the 31st day of December of the year in which registration is made.

2. The operator of a registered research facility shall not purchase or otherwise acquire an animal for use in the research facility from the holder of a licence as an operator of a supply facility unless the animal is of a type or species listed on the licence.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 2 (5); O. Reg. 434/95, s. 2 (2).

3. No person shall construct, acquire or reconstruct premises for use as a research facility, supply facility or pound without,

(a) notifying the Director of their intention; and

(b) furnishing the Director with a copy of the plans and specifications of the premises proposed to be used, constructed or reconstructed.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 3.

4. (1) The operator of every research facility shall, prior to the first day of March in every year, submit to the Director an annual report in respect of the preceding calendar year and the report shall contain,

(a) the total number of every species of animal used for research in the research facility in the year;

(b) the total number of dogs and the total number of cats purchased or otherwise acquired from,

(i) other research facilities,

(ii) pounds,

(iii) supply facilities, and

(iv) other sources; and

(c) the total number of dogs and the total number of cats that in any experiment or surgical procedure did not recover from anaesthesia.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 4 (1).

(2) The operator of every research facility shall submit to the Director a report setting out,

(a) the names of members of the animal care committee forthwith after the committee is established; and

(b) particulars of every change in membership of the animal care committee, including the name of any new member, forthwith after the change is made.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 4 (2).

5. (1) The maximum price that shall be paid for dogs or cats by the operators of research facilities under clause 20 (6) (c) of the Act shall be $6 for each dog and $2 for each cat.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 5 (1).

(2) For the purposes of subsection 20 (9) of the Act, the operator of a pound may require the operator of a research facility to pay not more than $2 per day or part thereof for each dog and $1 per day or part thereof for each cat sold to the operator of the research facility respecting its care, food and accommodation but only in respect of the period commencing with the day next following the day that the operator of the research facility is notified that the dog or cat is available for sale and ending with the day that the dog or cat leaves the pound.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 5 (2).

6. A person operating an elementary school or secondary school that contains a research facility is exempt from subsection 4 (1) and section 14 of the Act and from section 4 of Regulation 24 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990, in respect of the research facility subject to the following conditions:

1. The research facility shall be maintained in a sanitary condition at all times, as free as practicable from insects and vermin.

2. The standards of health, welfare and care of animals and the buildings, facilities and equipment provided by any person from whom animals are purchased have been approved by the Director.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 6.

Note: On January 1, 2027, the day section 7 of Schedule 1 to the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 comes into force, section 6 of the Regulation is revoked. (See: O. Reg. 191/26, s. 3)

7. Where a research facility is established by an operator and is used by that operator as a research facility for a total period of time not exceeding thirty days in any one year, the operator is exempt from subsection 4 (1) of the Act and from section 4 of Regulation 24 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990, in respect of the premises, subject to the condition that the research facility shall be maintained in a sanitary condition at all times, as free as practicable from insects and vermin.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 7.

Note: On January 1, 2027, the day section 7 of Schedule 1 to the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 comes into force, section 7 of the Regulation is amended by striking out “subsection 4 (1) of the Act and from section 4 of Regulation 24” and substituting “subsections 4 (1) and 15.1 (3) of the Act and from sections 4 and 4.1 of Regulation 24”. (See: O. Reg. 191/26, s. 4)

8. Where a person who is associated with a research facility and who is conducting research in connection therewith under the jurisdiction of an animal care committee established in connection with the research facility conducts the research on premises not owned or occupied by the operator of the research facility, that person is exempt from subsection 4 (1) of the Act and from section 4 of Regulation 24 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990, in respect of such premises subject to the following conditions:

Note: On January 1, 2027, the day section 7 of Schedule 1 to the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 comes into force, section 8 of the Regulation is amended, by striking out “associated with a research facility” in the portion before paragraph 1 and substituting “associated with a registered research facility”; and by striking out “subsection 4 (1) of the Act and from section 4 of Regulation 24” in the portion before paragraph 1 and substituting “subsections 4 (1) and 15.1 (3) of the Act and from sections 4 and 4.1 of Regulation 24”. (See: O. Reg. 191/26, s. 5 (1))

1. The research facility shall be maintained in a sanitary condition at all times, as free as practicable from insects and vermin.

2. The animal care committee shall, prior to the research being conducted, advise the Director in writing of the name of the person conducting the research and the address at which the research is to be conducted.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 8.

Note: On January 1, 2027, the day section 7 of Schedule 1 to the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 comes into force, paragraph 2 of section 8 of the Regulation is amended by striking out “Director” and substituting “chief inspector”. (See: O. Reg. 191/26, s. 5 (2))

Note: On January 1, 2027, the day section 7 of Schedule 1 to the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 comes into force, section 8 of the Regulation is amended by adding the following paragraph: (See: O. Reg. 191/26, s. 5 (3))

3. The research facility shall maintain copies of the protocol and procedures described in paragraphs 4 and 5 of subsection 17 (2) of the Act that relate to the registered research facility, and shall comply with them when conducting the research.

9. Where a person operates a research facility on premises owned by another person and the facility is operated under the jurisdiction of an animal care committee solely for the purpose of conducting field trials on livestock, poultry or such other species of animals as the Director may approve, using only a substance or substances the testing of which is required under any law in force in Ontario, the operator is exempt from subsection 4 (1) of the Act and from section 4 of Regulation 24 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990, in respect of such premises subject to the following conditions:

Note: On January 1, 2027, the day section 7 of Schedule 1 to the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 comes into force, section 9 of the Regulation is amended by striking out the portion before paragraph 1 and substituting the following: (See: O. Reg. 191/26, s. 6 (1))

9. Where a person who is associated with a registered research facility and who is conducting research in connection therewith under the jurisdiction of an animal care committee established in connection with the research facility operates a research facility on premises owned by another person for the purpose of conducting field trials on livestock, poultry or such other species of animals as the Director may approve, using only a substance or substances the testing of which is required under any law in force in Ontario, the person who operates the research facility is exempt from subsections 4 (1) and 15.1 (3) of the Act and from sections 4 and 4.1 of Regulation 24 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990, in respect of such premises subject to the following conditions:

1. The research facility shall be maintained in a sanitary condition at all times as free as practicable from insects and vermin.

2. The animal care committee shall, prior to the research being conducted, advise the Director in writing of the name of the person conducting the research, the address at which the research is to be conducted and the number and type or species of animals to be used in the research.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 9.

Note: On January 1, 2027, the day section 7 of Schedule 1 to the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 comes into force, paragraph 2 of section 9 of the Regulation is amended by striking out “Director” and substituting “chief inspector”. (See: O. Reg. 191/26, s. 6 (2))

Note: On January 1, 2027, the day section 7 of Schedule 1 to the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 comes into force, section 9 of the Regulation is amended by adding the following paragraph: (See: O. Reg. 191/26, s. 6 (3))

3. The research facility shall maintain copies of the protocol and procedures described in paragraphs 4 and 5 of subsection 17 (2) of the Act that relate to the registered research facility, and shall comply with them when conducting the research.

10. Where a person wishes to purchase or otherwise acquire an animal for use in a research facility and the animal is not of a type that may be readily purchased or otherwise acquired under section 14 of the Act by reason of its species or strain or by reason of any specific disease or condition desired of the animal, the person is exempt from section 14 of the Act but where the animal is a dog or cat the exemption is subject to the following conditions:

1. Prior to purchasing or otherwise acquiring the animal the person shall advise the Director in writing of,

i. the number of animals to be purchased or otherwise acquired,

ii. the name and address of the person from whom the animal is to be purchased or otherwise acquired, and

iii. the reason why the animal may not be readily purchased or otherwise acquired under section 14 of the Act.

2. Prior to purchasing or otherwise acquiring the animal the person shall obtain the permission in writing of the Director therefor.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 10.

Note: On January 1, 2027, the day section 7 of Schedule 1 to the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 comes into force, section 10 of the Regulation is amended by striking out “section 14” wherever it appears and substituting in each case “subsection 14 (1)”. (See: O. Reg. 191/26, s. 7)

11. (1) Where the operator of a pound has not satisfied all requests referred to in clause 20 (6) (c) of the Act the operator is exempt from the prohibition in subsection 20 (6) of the Act against destroying or causing or permitting to be destroyed any dog or cat but only where the dog or cat does not conform with the requirements specified in the requests.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 11 (1).

(2) For the purposes of subsection 24 (10) of the Act the treasurer of a municipality that has passed a by-law under which dogs or cats are impounded in a pound, or such person as the treasurer may designate in writing, is prescribed as the person to whom payment shall be made in respect of a dog or cat in the pound.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 11 (2).

Note: On January 1, 2027, the day section 7 of Schedule 1 to the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 comes into force, subsection 11 (2) of the Regulation is amended by striking out “24 (10)” and substituting “20 (10)”. (See: O. Reg. 191/26, s. 8)

12. (1) An operator of a research facility is exempt from subsection 14 (2) of the Act where,

(a) the operator has acquired a dog or cat under clause 20 (6) (c) of the Act;

(b) the research use of the dog or cat has been completed;

(c) in the opinion of the operator of the research facility, the dog or cat is in a state of good health and suitable for one or more of the uses referred to in clause 20 (6) (b) of the Act; and

(d) the operator disposes of the dog or cat by gift to the operator of the pound from which the dog or cat was acquired,

(i) for any of the uses referred to in clause 20 (6) (b) of the Act, or

(ii) for euthanasia.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 12 (1).

(2) No dog or cat that has been returned to a pound under subsection (1) shall be disposed of to a research facility.  R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 22, s. 12 (2).

Note: On January 1, 2027, the day section 7 of Schedule 1 to the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 comes into force, section 12 of the Regulation is revoked. (See: O. Reg. 191/26, s. 9)

Note: On January 1, 2027, the day section 7 of Schedule 1 to the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 comes into force, the Regulation is amended by adding the following sections: (See: O. Reg. 191/26, s. 10)

13. For the purposes of the Act and this Regulation,

“invasive medical research” means research on an animal where one or more of the following is expected or reasonably anticipated to occur during the performance of a research activity:

1. Any of the following alterations to the animal’s physical integrity, including through surgery or exposure to drugs or chemicals:

i. The removal of organs or limbs.

ii. Opening up the animal’s thoracic cavity.

iii. Changes to organs or limbs that result in complete dysfunction of that organ or limb.

2. The use of experiments or methods which cause moderate to severe distress or discomfort.

3. Procedures which cause severe pain near, at or above the pain tolerance threshold of unanaesthetised conscious animals.

4. The death of the animal. O. Reg. 191/26, s. 10.

14. (1) For the purposes of clause 15.1 (2) (a) of the Act, invasive medical research is for a veterinary purpose if either of the following apply:

1. The research is primarily intended to further the scientific understanding of animal health or veterinary medicine.

2. The research is part of a program of study at a post-secondary institution in veterinary medicine, veterinary technology or a related discipline. O. Reg. 191/26, s. 10.

(2) For the purposes of clause 15.1 (2) (b) of the Act, the following are the prescribed criteria that a research project proposal must meet:

1. The proposal demonstrates, to the extent that is practicable, that the operator of the registered research facility has considered all reasonable and scientifically justified alternative methods and strategies to,

i. replace the use of animals with non-animals or animals of a lower order,

ii. reduce the total number of animals that will be used, and

iii. refine the procedures, housing and animal husbandry for animals used in research to minimize the impacts on the animals.

2. The proposal demonstrates that the operator of the registered research facility has considered that,

i. the total number of animals that will be used is essential to achieving the aims set out in the proposal, and

ii. the animals that will be used could not reasonably be substituted with different animals of a lower order or a non-animal model, or a smaller number of animal subjects, without jeopardizing the nature and intended outcomes of the research.

3. The research project will use methods of housing and husbandry for the animals to be used in research that are suitable for the number and species of the animals, including environmental enrichment for the animals where appropriate.

4. If cats or dogs will be used,

i. the proposal states whether, upon completion of the research project, the cats or dogs could be suitable to be sold or gifted for use as pets or for use in hunting or working purposes safely and with a reasonable likelihood of success, and

ii. if the proposal states that the cats or dogs could be suitable for the uses described in subparagraph i, the proposal includes,

A. a methodology to determine whether specific cats or dogs are actually suitable for those uses, and

B. a documented process to facilitate those future uses where possible.

5. The proposal contains project-specific procedures for the prevention of unnecessary pain, including the use of anaesthetics and analgesics, and what observations or specific triggers would result in the use of those procedures.

6. The proposal describes how the animal care committee will continue to be engaged in monitoring the animals and their welfare at regular intervals for the duration of the research project.

7. If invasive medical research will be performed on an animal, the proposal demonstrates that the operator of the registered research facility has consulted with a veterinarian about the research project in order to obtain recommendations to prevent unnecessary pain and the alleviation of suffering for the animals. O. Reg. 191/26, s. 10.

15. For the purposes of subsection 17 (3.1) of the Act, the prescribed circumstance is that the animal care committee has received a research project proposal in accordance with clause 15.1 (2) (b) of the Act. O. Reg. 191/26, s. 10.

16. (1) The following transition rules apply with respect to the application of section 15.1 of the Act to research that commenced before the day section 10 of Ontario Regulation 191/26 came into force:

1. If a registered research facility was carrying out research on animals on the day the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 received Royal Assent, the prohibitions set out in subsections 15.1 (1) and (3) of the Act begin to apply with respect to the research on the later of,

i. the day section 10 of Ontario Regulation 191/26 comes into force, and

ii. the first anniversary of the day the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 received Royal Assent.

2. If a registered research facility commences research on animals on or after the day the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, 2026 received Royal Assent and before the day section 10 of Ontario Regulation 191/26 comes into force, the prohibitions set out in subsections 15.1 (1) and (3) of the Act apply with respect to the research on the day section 10 of Ontario Regulation 191/26 comes into force. O. Reg. 191/26, s. 10.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the determination of the day that research has commenced is the later of the following dates:

1. The date on which all animals assigned to the relevant research project are at the site where the research will be conducted.

2. The date on which the operator of the registered research facility filed the relevant research project proposal with the animal care committee under subsection 17 (3) of the Act. O. Reg. 191/26, s. 10.

17. An operator of a research facility shall ensure that the following conditions are satisfied with respect to research that is carried out in the research facility:

1. If the operator of the registered research facility has consulted with a veterinarian for the purposes of paragraph 7 of subsection 14 (2), the operator shall keep records of the consultation and of the reasons for whether or not a decision was made by the operator to adopt the veterinarian’s recommendations, and the operator shall make those records available to the animal care committee. O. Reg. 191/26, s. 10.

FormS 1-4 Revoked:  O. Reg. 434/95, s. 3.