Who bears primary responsibility for the animals on which regulated procedures are performed?

The correct answer is that the Personal Licence Holder bears primary responsibility for the animals on which regulated procedures are performed. This individual is typically responsible for the direct care and use of animals within a research or testing environment. The Personal Licence ensures that the individual has completed the necessary training and is knowledgeable about the ethical and legal standards governing the treatment of animals in research.

The rationale behind this designation is that the Personal Licence Holder is trained to understand the scientific and humane aspects of animal care, which includes recognizing the needs of the animals being used, the proper handling techniques, and the implementation of procedures that adhere to the principles of refinement, replacement, and reduction in animal use. Hence, the Personal Licence Holder plays a crucial role in ensuring the welfare of animals during regulated procedures.

Other roles, such as the Project Licence Holder or the Animal Care and Welfare Officer, also contribute to the management and oversight of animal welfare, but it is the Personal Licence Holder who is directly responsible for the animals during the procedures conducted under the project. The Home Office has an overall regulatory role but does not bear direct responsibility for the care of the animals in the same manner as the Personal Licence Holder does.