The Establishment licence
The Establishment licence provides authority to the Institution to carry out regulated procedures (a “user establishment”) or to breed and supply animals listed on Schedule 2 of A(SP)A. The licence is normally held by an individual who holds a senior position in the Institution so that they have sufficient authority to ensure all of the responsibilities for compliance with A(SP)A are undertaken adequately. They will also be sufficiently senior to implement changes to working practices when these are required. It is possible for a corporate body (e.g. a University) to hold the establishment licence but in these circumstances, an individual with primary responsibility for ensuring compliance must be identified (the “Named person responsible for compliance”).