Laboratory animals

About the permit

In order to use, breed, supply and/or keep laboratory animals, a permit from the Swedish Board of Agriculture is required. To obtain a permit from the Swedish Board of Agriculture for the use and breeding of laboratory animals, the following requirements must be met:

• User or breeding is to occur in approved establishments.
• An approved responsible person and a veterinary or if more appropriate an expert must be on hand.
• There is a need for the laboratory animals you intend to breed.

To be able to use laboratory animals, an organisation must be able to show that it is suitable to do so. For example, the staff must have adequate knowledge and experience to perform the kinds of experiments intended. A veterinary or an expert must also be employed by or associated to the organisation. The activity must also have a responsible person who must be approved by the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

The animals used in the experiments must also normally be bred to be used in animal experiments. This rule applies to mice, rats, Guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, dogs, cats, polecats, quail and primates, as well as all genetically modified vertebrates. When using genetically modified animals, special rules apply. Refer to the Swedish Board of Agriculture's website for more information.

If you want a permit to supply or keep laboratory animals, it is recommended that you contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture for more information about the requirements on the activity in such cases.

The facility and the establishments where the laboratory animals are kept must be approved by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Where new construction or renovations are carried out, the establishments must be approved in advance and, when they are finished, must be inspected by the Swedish Board of Agriculture before they can be used.

To perform animal experiments, approval from a regional laboratory animal ethics board is also required. See Activities with laboratory animals.

Permit issuer and supervision

The Swedish Board of Agriculture issues permits and The County Administrative Board is the supervisory authority.