What does this mean in practice?
While the licence is deemed personal, it is not owned by the individual. Rather, it is granted by the Secretary of State specifically for the purpose of conducting procedures on animals as authorised under the Animal Scientific Procedures Act (ASPA).
How do I comply with PIL Standard Condition 22?
If the Secretary of State or ASRU requests the surrender or suspension of your licence, you must stop all activities immediately.
You must transfer responsibility for all animals under your care to other authorised PIL holders. This process may involve placing animals under the protection of the Named Veterinary Surgeon or, when applicable, concluding the study with the assistance of other PIL holders or registered competent individuals who may carry out euthanasia on the animals.
What happens if I don’t comply with PIL Standard Condition 22?
When a surrender or suspension is initiated, it takes immediate effect, prompting the Establishment licence holder to carry out a thorough investigation into the reasons behind this action and any deficiencies in managing the licence appropriately.
It is important to note that the surrender or suspension of a personal licence will permanently remain on your record with the ASRU. This will impact your eligibility to obtain a licence in the future until the ASRU determines that you have fulfilled all necessary requirements to qualify to work under ASPA once again.
Performing procedures on animals with a surrendered or suspended licence places you in non-compliance, as you will be operating without the necessary licence authority. This situation could lead to potential prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act for causing harm to animals, as you would be outside the protective scope of ASPA, which safeguards individuals conducting regulated procedures on protected animals.
How do I know if I am complying with PIL Standard Condition 22?
Understand that your licence isn’t “yours” to keep — it’s officially owned by the Home Office (the Secretary of State).
Be prepared to return it if you’re asked to — for example:
- If your license is revoked or suspended.
- If you’re leaving the UK or stopping work involving animals.
- If the Home Office requests it for audit, correction, or review.
Note: In practice, most PILs are now held digitally through the ASPeL system, so surrendering it usually just means stopping work and ensuring your status is updated, not physically handing over a document.